Results of the KMT''s New Taipei City mayoral primary emerged today. Former New Taipei City deputy mayor Hou You-yi will be on a KMT ticket in the year-end mayoral election. Ken: In the coming weeks, the DPP will decide whom they''ll pick to be Hou''s challenger, with former Premiers Su Tseng-chang and Yu Shyi-kun currently the front runners. More than a dozen KMT New Taipei City councilors surrounded Hou, demonstrating their confidence that he can lead them to victory in the city. Hou You-yiKMT New Taipei City mayoral candidateI have absolute confidence in my ability to win the New Taipei City mayoral election on behalf of the KMT, as well as to get an absolute majority for our city councilors and many victories for our borough chiefs. Hou’s opponent in the primaries, Former Taipei County Commissioner Chou Hsi-wei, took his defeat like a gentleman, but KMT New Taipei City Councilor Chin Chieh-shou seemed to have quite a few complaints.Chou Hsi-weiFormer Taipei County CommissionerI’m willing to help all party comrades in need of assistance with campaigning. I’m very willing to help them. Chin Chieh-shouKMT New Taipei City councilor I have to accept it. What else can I do? I just have to accept it.With the KMT settled on its candidate, the DPP is stepping up its own nomination process. There is speculation that both Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu and President Tsai Ing-wen will meet with former New Taipei City mayor Su Tseng-chang next week, to persuade him to run once again. However, there is also considerable support for former Premier Yu Shyi-kun within the party.Li Kun-chengDPP New Taipei City councilorIf Chen Chu has this wish to consult with Mr. Su, I think she should also consult Mr. Yu. Chang Jui-shanDPP New Taipei City councilorAt the very least, some KMT supporters – it’s embarrassing to point this out, but – a majority of them will support Su Tseng-chang if they hear he is running. That won’t necessarily be true for other candidates. Supporters of Su and Yu are mobilizing their final lobbying efforts, ahead of the DPP’s announcement of its candidate in mid-April.
