KMT Chairwoman's Changhua meeting attendance of Magistrate Wang Hui-mei draws scrutiny

The upcoming action committee meeting in Changhua, hosted by Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Chu Li-wen, is drawing significant attention, primarily due to the uncertainty surrounding the attendance of Changhua County Magistrate Wang Hui-mei. This meeting comes amid ongoing disputes over the KMT's nomination for the Changhua County magistrate position, with Chu having already visited the area three times to support the nominated candidate, Wei Ping-cheng.

Sources indicate that Chu had previously attempted to meet with Wang privately but was unsuccessful. Wang's potential absence from the upcoming meeting would mark the fourth instance of the two failing to appear together publicly, potentially complicating the KMT's efforts to consolidate support in Changhua. This situation adds another layer of complexity to the party's local integration efforts.

Chu has been actively touring various counties deemed challenging for the KMT, including Hsinchu, Yilan, and Chiayi City, holding similar action committee meetings to rally support. Her visit to Changhua is part of this broader strategy to strengthen the party's position in key electoral districts. Following Changhua, Chu is also scheduled to hold a meeting in Kaohsiung, one of the six special municipalities.

Internal party discussions reveal concerns beyond these initially identified difficult constituencies. Even Taitung, initially considered a safe KMT seat and Chu's first stop for these meetings, is now being closely monitored. This shift is partly attributed to former President Tsai Ing-wen's involvement in consolidating support for the Democratic Progressive Party's candidate in Taitung. The party is evaluating whether Chu's public campaign efforts are effectively boosting electoral prospects, especially in light of potential challenges in eastern Taiwan, including Yilan and Taitung, and the critical "Battle for New Taipei" which could significantly impact the overall KMT election performance.