New Taipei Mayor Eric Chu on Monday registered with his party – the Kuomintang (KMT) – to run for reelection.
He said that as the vice chairman of the KMT he is responsible for overseeing the year-end elections in Taoyuan County and Hsinchu City and County. However, as the mayor of New Taipei, he is also looking for wins in New Taipei, Taipei, and the neighboring city of Keelung as well.
After registering his candidacy, Chu said that his work as mayor is still a priority. He said his decision to run for reelection was prompted by positive results in opinion polls.
Chu is set to face off against the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Yu Shyi-kun. Yu was premier from 2002 to 2005 when then-President Chen Shui-bin was in power.
Chu said that he would not be competing with Yu, but rather with himself. He said that if the citizens support him, then they will give him the opportunity to continue to serve as mayor.
As for when Chu will set up his campaign headquarters, he said Monday that he’s in no hurry, and that he will do so when the time is right.