As his popularity surges, Lien Chan has no plans for re-election 'so far'
Kuomintang chairman Lien Chan yesterday said he had no plans to run for a new term as party chief despite growing calls for him to stay on.
'My thoughts are simple, just going by the book. So far I have no plans to run for re-election,' he told the KMT-run China Television Company.
Mr Lien was making his first comments on the controversial re-election issue since his triumphant return from a historic visit to the mainland, where he held talks with Communist Party general secretary Hu Jintao .
The re-election issue has been widely discussed since Mr Lien failed to win the presidency last year, although the KMT managed to hold on to its legislative majority in elections last December.
Opinion is divided over whether Mr Lien should stay on as KMT chairman, with one side saying he should step down to make way for younger members, such as Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou and legislative speaker Wang Jin-pyng - both KMT vice-chairmen.