The ruling Kuomintang (KMT) has decided to hold a special national congress, with the likely intention of replacing its presidential candidate. The current candidate – Legislature Vice President Hung Hsiu-chu – is trailing behind the opposition Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Tsai Ing-wen by double-digits.
Hung’s likely replacement would be KMT Chairman Eric Chu, who is also the current mayor of New Taipei City.
KMT Secretary-General Lee Shu-chuan is willing to apologize to Hung on behalf of the party for treating her unfairly.
On Friday, Chu said that he admired Hung and that she had worked hard throughout the campaign. But he fell short of offering her an apology.
“I believe that the secretary-general represents the party, and is responsible for all the inner workings of the party, so his willingness to apologize is on behalf of the party," said Chu.
"Now as for me, I will offer an explanation at the national congress," he said.
Chu said that he and the party’s secretary-general had attempted to contact Hung over the past several days, but that perhaps she needed time to reflect. He said that if he had the opportunity to meet with Hung, he would express the overall sentiment of the party and tell her about the party’s plans for the national congress.
Hung has said that she has no intention of stepping out of the race. As to whether she will attend the upcoming national congress, Chu said that she would be there, since she is still the KMT’s candidate, and an important member of the party.