KMT to Hold National Congress on July 25 to Rally for Nine-in-One Elections

(CNA, Taipei, May 20, by reporter Liu Kuan-ting) The Kuomintang (KMT) announced today that it will hold its National Congress on July 25 to build momentum for its county and city mayoral candidates. Yin Nai-ching, Chairperson of the Culture and Communications Committee, stated that the congress will demonstrate the party's determination to win the nine-in-one elections, with the campaign's main theme and slogan being "Strive for Peace, Care for the People, Taiwan Wins." The KMT held its Central Standing Committee meeting this afternoon, where it was confirmed that the 22nd National Congress's 2nd Plenary Session will be held on July 25 at Taipei Municipal Chenggong High School. It was emphasized that the most important task of this congress is to win the nine-in-one local public office elections and to hold a rally. In an interview, Yin Nai-ching said the campaign theme and slogan, "Strive for Peace, Care for the People, Taiwan Wins," is what Party Chairwoman Cheng Li-wen has identified as being in line with national interests and public expectations since taking office, striving for a life of peace, happiness, and prosperity. After the KMT's Central Standing Committee approved the nomination of former Disciplinary Committee head Wei Ping-cheng to run for Changhua County Magistrate on the 13th, the candidates for mayors and magistrates across Taiwan have been largely finalized. Currently, only the candidate for Chiayi County remains undecided, with the KMT planning to jointly nominate a candidate through an opposition coalition. As for the nomination of incumbent mayors and magistrates in Keelung City, Taipei City, Taoyuan City, Miaoli County, Nantou County, and Lienchiang County, the process will proceed after the respective councils adjourn, likely to be completed by late June or early July. Furthermore, regarding the mayoral candidate for Zhubei City, Lee Che-hua, head of the KMT's Organization Development Committee, explained that the KMT has included Zhubei City in a mechanism for jointly producing a candidate in cooperation between the KMT (Blue) and the Taiwan People's Party (White). The KMT expects to hold a primary in late May, and will negotiate with the TPP after a candidate is selected.