Taiwan News
Date: 2015-07-14
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Former Taipei City Mayor Hau Lung-bin was slowing down his plans to run for a legislative seat in Keelung City after negative reactions from local Kuomintang members, reports said Tuesday.

The party vice chairman announced last week he was considering to run in the harbor city for a seat in the January 16 elections to help it hang on to an absolute majority, but local party workers reportedly criticized his plans. The KMT should nominate a native politician instead of “parachuting” a major personality in from outside Keelung, the critics said.

Hau reportedly suggested that the candidate for the Keelung seat should not be drafted from the top but that local opinions should be respected. Observers interpreted that the nomination of a candidate would not happen at this Wednesday’s regular KMT Central Standing Committee meeting, but might occur after this weekend’s July 19 party congress.     [FULL  STORY]