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15:02, 23-Apr-2019
Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu 'unable' to participate in KMT primary election for Taiwan's leader
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Han Kuo-yu, mayor of Kaohsiung in southeast China's Taiwan, said that he was "unable" to participate in the Kuomingtang's (KMT) primary elections for Taiwan's leader 2020 "under the current system."
He made the statement at a press conference on Tuesday in Kaohsiung.
He further elaborated that for a long time political leaders have preferred closed-door negotiations, distancing them away from the people. He called for political reforms in Taiwan and said he wishes to change the country.
Han had been a closely-watched KMT candidate for Taiwan's upcoming 2020 general election until his announcement. As a popular mayor of Kaohsiung, he has created a political and cultural phenomenon called the "Han Wave" in Taiwan.
Foxconn founder Terry Gou announced Wednesday his run for Taiwan's leader. According to the latest opinion poll of Taiwan-based Shih Hsin University, Gou enjoys high approval ratings, but slightly lower than Han, while well above Tsai Ing-wen and Lai Ching-te, two members of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) who have also declared candidacy.
In March, Han led a delegation from Taiwan's Kaohsiung for a week-long tour including Hong Kong, Macao, Shenzhen, and Xiamen, during which Kaohsiung has secured trade deals worth 5.2 billion new Taiwan dollars (168.7 million U.S. dollars) in total.
The KMT said that the party's primary election method will be decided through the Central Party Committee's full discussion, and still hopes that Han would participate in the primary.
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