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LAWRENCE CHUNG IN TAIPEI

Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou will officially step down tomorrow as the chairman of Kuomintang to take full responsibility over the ruling party’s crushing defeat in Saturday’s local elections.
Ma told participants in a KMT party affairs meeting this afternoon that he would announce his resignation during tomorrow’s KMT central standing committee meeting, party officials said.

	Let’s use our defeat this time to become our success next time

	Ma Ying-jeou
“Being the chairman I must apologise to all of our supporters … for disappointing you,” Ma said in a statement released by his party.
“For this, I will announce my resignation as chairman of the KMT during the central standing committee meeting and once again express my sincere apology to all of our members and supporters,” he said.
The party had suffered numerous defeats since its establishment 120 years ago, but had never been beaten by these.
“Let’s use our defeat this time to become our success next time,” he said.
Officials said Hung Hsiu-chu, deputy speaker of the legislature and third vice-chairperson of the KMT, would serve as the interim chairperson until a new leader was elected in three months.

	I will announce my resignation as chairman of the KMT during the central standing committee meeting and once again express my sincere apology to all of our members and supporters

	Ma Ying-jeou
Vice-President Wu Den-yih, first-vice chairman, said yesterday he had already tendered his resignation to Ma as vice-chairman, and that he would not run for the post of chairman.
Tseng Yung-chuan, the second vice-chairman, who resigned on Saturday as the KMT’s secretary general – in response to party’s worst setback since coming to power in 1949 – also said he would not taking on the role of acting chairman.
Leading members of Taiwan’s ruling Kuomintang party have stayed tight-lipped about whether they will put themselves forward to be the next chairman – a contest that campaign analysts believe will spark fierce infighting.
Ma’s decision to resign as chairman will now ignite a fierce power struggle within the party.
Analysts said his decision had not been a surprise because he had become a lame duck in the role following the party’s disastrous election showing.
Competition for the post would be intense because whoever was elected as the next KMT chairman would have a better chance of winning the party’s nomination to stand in the 2016 presidential election, they said.
However, they added that any premature disclosure of such intent by a candidate would leave them open to attack by potential rivals.

	If we don’t want the KMT to disappear, we should talk about its reform and how this organisation can fit in with the 21st century

	Eric Chu Li-luan
The KMT secured only one of the six key municipalities and keeping five of the 16 cities and counties – in sharp contrast to its previous election showing when it won four municipalities and 11 cities and counties.
It led to Premier Dr Jiang Yi-huah and 81 members of his cabinet resigning on Monday.
The cabinet members will stay on until another premier is sworn in and picks a new team.
Earlier today, before Ma’s announcement, Hung told a news conference: “In the face of our unprecedented crushing defeat, we have no time for a power struggle.”
Hung is seen as one of the party hopefuls to take on the leadership of the party on a permanent basis.
She said that no one in the party could evade his or her responsibility for helping to put the KMT back on track following its defeat.
“If everybody leaves without a proper reason, then who is to take charge of the party affairs?” she asked.
However, she made no mention about how she would respond, including whether she would resign.
This prompted an angry response from KMT mavericks, who called for her to step down in light of Jiang and two of the party’s vice-chairmen – Tseng and outgoing Taipei mayor Hau Lung-bin  – all tendering their resignations to assume responsibility for the party’s humiliating defeat.
Asked if she would run for the KMT’s top post, Hung said: “The job of the acting chairperson is to elect a new leader, ensure that everything proceeds fairly, justly and openly – and that’s all,” she said, refusing to talk about whether she had any ambitions to stand as a candidate.
Huang Min-hui, the fourth vice-chairperson – the outgoing mayor of Chiayi City – said she had no desire to cling on to her position as a vice-chairperson, but would be “willing to take part in helping to reform of the KMT”.
Meanwhile, Eric Chu Li-luan, the newly re-elected New Taipei mayor, and Jason Hu Chih-chiang, the outgoing Taichung mayor – the two remaining KMT vice-chairmen, both said they would not evade taking responsibility for reforming and improving the party.
However, they also stressed that it was more important to talk about how the KMT could reform and win back public support, rather than discuss the identify of the new party chairman.
“If we don’t want the KMT to disappear, we should talk about its reform and how this organisation can fit in with the 21st century, and allow the young generation to accept it as a political party with ideals,” said Chu, one of those hoping to win the party’s top post – and the KMT nomination for the 2016 presidential election.


Taiwan's KMT scrambles for interim chairman as Ma Ying-jeou steps down

President Ma Ying-jeou (centre) has said he will resign as the Kuomintang party's chairman tomorrow. Photo: Kyodo

KMT stalwarts in no rush to fill Ma Ying-jeou's shoes

Hung Hsiu-chu (right) says all KMT members must help put the party back on track. Photo: CAN

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China

Wu Den-yih reluctantly agrees to serve as caretaker, party officials say


President Ma Ying-jeou will officially step down tomorrow as the chairman of the Kuomintang after the party's disastrous showing in Saturday's local elections 
