President Ma Ying-jeou took to the campaign trail on Sunday in Taipei ahead of the year-end elections. It was his first time stumping for the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) candidate Sean Lien this election season.
Between 1,600-1,800 party members came out to show support not just for Lien but also for other Taipei-based candidates who will be running in year-end races.
President Ma presented Lien with a symbolic battle flag on Sunday morning. Ma also called on the people of Taipei to vote for Lien in the hopes that the KMT can continue the work it began back when President Ma was mayor of Taipei. He said that under the current mayor – Hau Lung-bin – a number of traditions had been passed along in the city of Taipei. The president said that Lien understands economic development and has close grassroots connections, and is therefore capable of understanding the needs of the people of Taipei.
Lien is a former chairman of the Taipei Smart Card Corporation, which operates the EasyCards used in the Taipei metro. He is also the son of former Vice President Lien Chan.
Media reports show that independent candidate Ko Wen-je, who has opposition party support, is currently ahead in the polls.