KMT Plans July National Congress to Rally for Local Elections

Central News Agency (CNA) message (Reporter Liu Kuan-ting, Taipei, 17th) – The Kuomintang (KMT) is preparing for the year-end local elections, with most candidates for county and city mayor positions already decided. Only the nominations for the six incumbent local heads in places like Taipei seeking re-election have not been completed. The KMT plans to complete the nomination process after the city and county councils in these six areas adjourn. The KMT expects to hold its National Congress in July to build a united atmosphere and rally for its mayoral and county magistrate candidates. After the KMT's Central Standing Committee approved the nomination of former Disciplinary Committee Chairman Wei Ping-cheng to run for Changhua County Magistrate on the 13th, candidates for county and city mayors across Taiwan have been largely confirmed, with only the candidate for Chiayi County yet to be determined. Party insiders stated that the candidate for Chiayi County Magistrate is planned to be selected through an opposition alliance, consolidating local opinions to jointly nominate a candidate. Negotiations and discussions are currently underway, and a candidate is expected to emerge soon. Regarding the nomination process for incumbent county and city mayors in Keelung City, Taipei City, Taoyuan City, Miaoli County, Nantou County, and Lienchiang County, party officials said that for ruling counties and cities, governance takes priority. To allow the mayors and magistrates to focus on their administrative duties, the party headquarters is not in a hurry to nominate them. They are currently checking the schedules of the council sessions in these six areas. After the councils recess, the relevant nomination procedures will be carried out, with a tendency to complete them by the end of June or early July. Party officials stated that the KMT plans to hold its National Congress in late July to rally for the year-end local elections and consolidate the unity of the blue camp. They are currently confirming the venue, and the date of the meeting will be announced once it is confirmed. Furthermore, regarding the year-end local elections, local campaign personnel from the blue camp have warned that the KMT still faces internal divisions or situations requiring integration in several areas, such as Changhua County and Hsinchu County. The party headquarters should not take this lightly. Both the local mayoral and county magistrate candidates and the party leadership should address these issues promptly to mend the rifts and avoid irreversible situations in the year-end elections. (Editors: Tsai Su-jung, Su Chih-tsung) 1150517