Taiwan's president seeks re-election to KMT's top job

The Taiwanese president, Ma Ying-jeou, is seeking re-election as chairman of the ruling Kuomintang party, in what pundits view as a move to keep him from losing political authority before his current presidential term ends in 2016.

Analysts and party officials said Ma was expected to be re-elected, despite being challenged by a potential candidate - a little-known member of the party's Central Standing Committee - but it remains to be seen whether Taiwan's leader would be able to garner strong support as he did during his previous chairmanship race in 2009.

According to the KMT yesterday, the mainland-friendly party will elect a new chairman on July 20. From next Tuesday to June 20, before they can register their candidacy on June 20 and 21, party aspirants must obtain an endorsement from 3 per cent, or about 12,000, of the more than 380,000 members who are eligible to vote.

"I call on all members to take part in the election, which will be conducted in a just, fair and open manner," KMT vice-chairman Tseng Yung-chuan said.

He said another vice-chairman, Chan Chun-po, had resigned from his current post to serve as Ma's campaign manager and assist the island's leader in his re-election bid. "The resignation is to ensure impartiality in the race," Tseng said.

Ma declared his intention to run for re-election last month, saying it could help ensure full co-operation between the party and his administration and smooth governance of the island.

Ma is likely to run in a two-way election. Hsieh Kun-hung, a KMT Central Standing Committee member and a former deputy chief of the cabinet's regional office in central Taiwan, announced his bid in March to run against Ma for the party's top job.