He’s back: Ma Ying-jeou rebuilds his popularity – might another run for Taiwan’s presidency be in store?
Even with lawsuits and allegations still swirling around him, the once disgraced former president has become more visible on what could well be a political comeback trail
Thousands of supporters packed a night market in Hualien in eastern Taiwan last month to try to get a glimpse of Ma Ying-jeou, the island’s former president.
Passionate fans even formed a queue at least 200 metres long to shake hands or have their photos taken with the ex-leader, who twice visited the city to show concern soon after a 6.4-magnitude earthquake wrecked Hualien in early February, killing 17 people and injuring 290 others.
Wearing a dark blue lightweight jacket with a hood, Ma busily worked the crowd. Some fans said they had been waiting for hours to see him.
“If I were able to shake hands with him, I would not have washed my hand for three days,” a female supporter said.
Three other fans being pushed by the crowd to one side screamed with joy when Ma unexpectedly stretched out his arm for handshakes with them, all while calling for more efforts to help revive tourism in Hualien.
“This is the first time I have seen our business rebounded a month after the earthquake,” said a vendor who gave only his last name, Wang. “The ex-president has brought us the business,” he said, echoing the appeal made by other supporters for Ma to stage a comeback.
