Taichung Mayor Lu Hsiu-yen takes campaign post to unite party caucus

Lucy Liu (Lu Hsiu-yan), who has served as the mayor of Taichung for two years, will take a day of leave tomorrow to travel to Taipei and attend a campaign press conference organized by the Kuomintang (KMT). The primary focus of the meeting is to finalize the candidate list for the party headquarters election scheduled for 2024. At the event, Liu formally announced that she would assume the role of Campaign General Chair, a position responsible for coordinating the party’s electoral efforts across various district party organizations and assisting in selecting the most competitive candidates. This move not only underscores her influence within the party but also highlights the KMT’s emphasis on internal coordination mechanisms.

Chiang Chi-cheng, the KMT’s Taichung City Mayor, issued a statement on the same day, describing Liu as a "capable person who shoulders more responsibility" and expressing his full support for her work. Holding a significant position within the party, Jiang has long been dedicated to fostering unity and coordination among party factions. His public endorsement reflects the approval of the majority of party organizations regarding Liu’s appointment as Campaign General Chair and suggests that the party will face external competition in the upcoming elections with a united front.

The background of this appointment is linked to the internal divisions within the KMT in recent years. Since the last party headquarters election, the party has frequently experienced calls for separation, particularly regarding the selection of party organization chairs and candidates, where opposition between different factions has been evident. As the mayor of Taichung, Liu maintains a relatively neutral image and possesses a solid base of support within the party. Her appointment as Campaign General Chair is expected to balance the interests of various factions and reduce internal friction. This strategic adjustment aims to help the KMT re-energize and enhance the overall competitiveness of its party organizations in the 2024 elections.

Furthermore, Liu’s appointment carries significance in terms of regional representation. Taichung, a key city in central Taiwan, has a substantial voter base. Liu’s influence within the party can assist the KMT in expanding its party organization coverage in the central region and achieving better electoral performance. For the party organizations, selecting a chair who can coordinate resources and mobilize personnel across different regions is crucial for implementing the overall electoral strategy.

Finally, Chiang’s public support demonstrates the trust and expectations held by the KMT’s internal leadership regarding the party organization’s leadership. As the elections approach, party members at all levels will, under Liu’s leadership, further consolidate internal party resources to ensure that the party organizations can face competition in the most advantageous position. This move not only embodies internal party coordination but also signals that the KMT will meet the challenges of the upcoming party organization elections with a more unified stance. (Source: Central News Agency)