KMT vows to win back Taipei mayorship in 2018

Opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu (???) vowed Monday that the party will win back the mayorship in Taipei in 2018 by fielding the party's best candidate.

"We must take back the Taipei mayorship by then, and my biggest mission will be fielding the most qualified candidate to help the KMT win the election," she said, referring to Lo Chih-chiang (???), a Presidential Office deputy secretary-general in the administration of former President Ma Ying-jeou (???) from 2012 to 2013.

Speaking at a walking event organized by Lo to mark the 300,000 likes given by his fans on Facebook, Hung said the KMT has a big talent pool and that the party must find the most suitable person to run for Taipei mayor.

Hung said she encouraged Lo to stand up and strive for the common ideals they share.

Lo announced on Dec. 24 that he will launch a three-phase election campaign for Taipei mayor, shortly after incumbent Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (???) made public his desire to run for re-election.

Several recent opinion polls have found Ko's public approval rating plunging below 40 percent. A poll by Taiwan Brain Trust in December showed Ko's popularity at 39.3 percent, the lowest of any of the mayors of Taiwan's six special municipalities.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel