Former Taiwanese vice-president Annette Lu Hsiu-lien's surprise withdrawal from her bid for the presidency next year is stirring speculation over the real reason behind her move.
Some say Lu wanted to team up with former premier Su Tseng-chang in order to teach political opponent Democratic Progressive Party chairwoman Dr Tsai Ing-wen a lesson. Su declared his intention to run for the top post last Tuesday, the same day Lu withdrew. But more controversial was a recent media report that she had quit on the advice of a Christian priest who had told her to contest the 2016 election instead.
'Endure for another four years, because Tsai would become [political] cannon fodder in the 2012 poll,' the priest, identified as Hsu Jung-chang, was quoted as saying by the Taiwanese edition of Hong Kong's Apple Daily. The report said Lu met the priest through former legislator Hsu Jung-shu on March 14 and he told her that she was God's chosen president, but in 2016, not 2012.
The priest reportedly asked her to devote her time to social work to build up her image. 'Never quit the party to run for president as an independent candidate,' he said, adding: 'When Jesus Christ wants you to be president, no one can stop it.'
Eight days later, she backed off from the race for the DPP primary, saying it was all because of 'God's revelation', the report said.
Lu's office confirmed the meeting, but dismissed the priest's words as 'inaccurate and totally irrelevant'.