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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Elections & Politics

Changhua Magistrate's Opposition Appearances Spark KMT Backlash

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Changhua County Magistrate Wang Mei-hui, who is nearing the end of her term, has drawn criticism from within her own party for attending events with opposition candidates.
  • Wang appeared alongside Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Chen Su-yue at an event with Premier Cho Jung-tai, just a day after appearing with President Lai Ching-te.
  • The actions have angered grassroots members of the Kuomintang (KMT), who accuse Wang of indirectly campaigning for the DPP while refusing to publicly support the KMT's own candidate, Wei Ping-cheng.

Changhua County Magistrate Wang Mei-hui's recent appearances at events featuring opposition candidates have ignited a firestorm within her own Kuomintang (KMT) party. As her term nears its end, Wang has been seen sharing platforms with figures from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), sparking accusations of disloyalty.

She's clearly taking advantage of the KMT!

— KMT insiderA KMT insider expresses frustration over Magistrate Wang Mei-hui's actions.

On consecutive days, Wang attended events that drew significant attention. First, she appeared alongside President Lai Ching-te. The following day, she was present at an event with Premier Cho Jung-tai, where she was pictured with DPP's Changhua County candidate, Chen Su-yue. This proximity to opposition figures stands in stark contrast to her absence from events supporting the KMT's candidate, Wei Ping-cheng.

I decided on this itinerary yesterday, and I didn't expect the magistrate and three committee members to come.

— Cho Jung-taiPremier Cho Jung-tai comments on the unexpected presence of Magistrate Wang Mei-hui and others at his event.

KMT Chairperson Coleen Chen has made multiple trips to Changhua to bolster Wei's campaign, which has reportedly been struggling. Chen had attempted to mend fences with Wang, praising her eight years of governance and expressing a desire for her to "return to the team." However, Wang's choice to align with President Lai and then appear with Chen Su-yue has left KMT grassroots members fuming.

Today is to achieve the goal of having long-term care and health and welfare buildings in all 26 townships and cities in Changhua as soon as possible, with the allocation and subsidy from the Executive Yuan and the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

— Wang Mei-huiMagistrate Wang Mei-hui explains her reason for attending the event, citing a project for long-term care facilities.

"Who is she campaigning for? She's clearly taking advantage of the KMT!" exclaimed one party insider. The situation is particularly sensitive as Wang had previously expressed a preference for New Taipei City Deputy Mayor Liu Ho-jan to run for the position, but Liu declined. After the KMT officially nominated Wei Ping-cheng, Wang cited administrative neutrality as her reason for not participating in party campaign activities. Her continued public engagements with opposition figures, however, suggest a different political calculus, leaving many within the KMT questioning her allegiances.

very tolerant and magnanimous

— Wang Mei-huiMagistrate Wang Mei-hui praises President Lai Ching-te during their joint appearance.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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