KMT holds major rally in Hualien, likens candidates to sisters

The Kuomintang (KMT) party convened a major rally in Hualien, Taiwan, to galvanize support for their candidate for county magistrate, Yu Shu-chen, and other local representatives. The event saw the presence of key party figures, including Chairwoman Charlena Cheng and Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen, underscoring the party's commitment to the region's electoral contest.

During her address, Chairwoman Cheng drew parallels between prominent KMT figures, noting a "couple's face" resemblance between Hualien Magistrate Hsu Chen-wei and Legislator Fu Kun-chi. She also pointed out a "sisterly resemblance" between Mayor Lu and candidate Yu Shu-chen, suggesting a transfer of electoral success from the west coast to the east. Cheng urged for solidarity, stating, "The Lu Ma of the west coast is the Yu Shu-chen of the east coast," and expressed confidence in Yu's potential victory.

Cheng lauded the outgoing Magistrate Hsu Chen-wei for her eight years of service, emphasizing the need for vigilance despite the KMT's long-standing governance in Hualien. She announced that Yu Shu-chen, the current mayor of Ji'an Township, was the party's chosen candidate to continue the administration's work. The rally culminated with Cheng presenting Yu with a red sash and Mayor Lu bestowing a national flag, officially launching the campaign. Cheng, however, declined to answer media questions regarding concerns about the Hualien election following a recent large-scale protest in Taipei.