Kuomintang (KMT) Secretary-General Li Sichuan said on Monday that New Party Chairman Yok Mu-ming is not eligible for candidacy in the KMT’s chairmanship election. The New Party is part of the Pan-Blue Coalition, which is led by the KMT.
The KMT has officially announced the process for selecting a new chairman. The position has been vacant since former chairman, presidential candidate Eric Chu resigned after losing the 2016 election. New Party Chairman Yok Mu-ming announced on Sunday his intent to take part in the race.
KMT Secretary-General Li Sichuan said, though, that Yok does not qualify under the KMT’s current regulations. However Li said the KMT welcomes Yok and other New Party members to rejoin the KMT.
Under the KMT’s regulations, all candidates for chairman must have served in the party’s Central Standing Committee. A candidate would also need at least 3% of the party members’ support.
So far, two other KMT members have thrown their hat in the ring: former Deputy Chairperson Hung Hsiu-chu, who was originally her party’s candidate for president this year, and former Vice-Chairman Hao Lung-pin who is also a former mayor of Taipei.