News
Han Kuo-yu announces bid for LY speaker
KMT lawmaker-elect Han Kuo-yu has announced his bid to seek the post of President (or speaker of the Legislative Yuan and is indicating a willingness to accept a candidate from the Taiwan People's Party as his deputy.
Han used social media to say he was running to return the Legislative Yuan to its rightful role of overseeing and balancing the other branches of government, in contrast to the rubber stamp it became over the past eight years under DPP control. Han says he is currently running with KMT lawmaker Johnny Chiang as his deputy but the former Kaohsiung mayor is stressing that Chiang is ready to bow out in favour of a TPP candidate if that party is willing to join forces.
Han says he believes that by running a joint speakership ticket, the KMT and TPP could "unite the opposition" and "give the DPP a taste of the fury of 60% of the public." Han went on to say that would teach the DPP "humility" and force them to change.
In other post-election news, KMT Chairman Eric Chu says he will not resign from the party leadership despite the results of the presidential election. The statement comes despite repeated calls for him to step down from within the party.
Chu says while he will "shoulder all responsibilities and endure humiliations" related to the presidential election, he will remain in his post "until the end of his term" - which is in October next year. Chu also says he will be touring cities and counties around the island with Hou Yu-ih and KMT lawmakers beginning tomorrow where they will talk to grassroots supporters in order to get local feedback on party reforms.
In news from the DPP camp, President-elect Lai Ching-te has announced that he is no longer a member of the DPP's New Tide faction. According to Lai, he chose to withdraw from the faction "out of respect for the office of the president" and as he wants to govern "objectively, without partisanship."
Lai made the announcement during a meeting of the DPP's Central Standing Committee. New Tide chief executive officer Duan Yi-kang says Lai first discussed leaving the faction during his election campaign. Members of the New Tide say they support Lai's decision as the president “should not identify with one single party faction and it's important that the head of state be seen as "representing the whole country."
