Chairman of the ruling Kuomintang (KMT), Eric Chu, has reiterated that he will not run in the presidential election next year.
Chu made the comments in a press conference on Saturday. He said it is in fact more difficult not to run in the presidential election. Chu also said if the party loses in the election, he will step down as party chairman.
The deadline for picking up an application to participate in the ruling party’s presidential primary was 4pm on Saturday. So far only three people have picked up a registration form to participate in the primary. None of the party heavyweights have thrown their hats in the ring.
In an interview published Saturday in the Taipei-based Apple Daily, President Ma Ying-jeou said Chu should not rule out his candidacy in the presidential election. Ma said as party chairman, Chu should not dodge the responsibility that is his to shoulder.
The ruling party’s candidate will face off against chairwoman of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party Tsai Ing-wen.