The ruling Kuomintang (KMT) has announced that a vote will be held on January 17 to elect a chairman to replace President Ma Ying-jeou. Ma resigned as head of the KMT following its crushing defeat in last month’s local elections.
The KMT suffered its worst defeat, winning only six out of 22 cities and counties.
New Taipei City Mayor Eric Chu, who won the party’s only mayoral seat in Taiwan’s six biggest cities, has not tossed his hat into the ring. However, he has the backing of 30 KMT lawmakers to run for the party chairmanship.
The KMT’s acting secretary-general Hung Hsiu-chu said on Thursday that now is the time for the party to reform. She also called on the party’s young generation to stand up to shoulder the responsibility of reforming.