Foxconn founder Terry Gou is not standing for the presidency in 2020, citing the self-interest of politicians. Photo: AP
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https://scmp.com/news/china/article/3027537/foxconns-terry-gou-drops-taiwans-presidential-bid China
Taiwan’s former vice-president Annette Lu Hsiu-lien to vie for presidency in ‘mission from heaven’
- Gou’s surprise statement that he will not join race is upstaged by veteran Lu carrying banner of new Formosa Alliance Party
- Tycoon says he rejects the ‘hatred, confrontation and popularism’ of Taiwan’s political process
Annette Lu Hsiu-lien, former vice-president of Taiwan, (centre) celebrates her independent bid for the presidency with supporters. Photo: CNA
Taiwan’s former vice-president, Annette Lu Hsiu-lien, announced her bid for the presidency on Tuesday, a day after Foxconn billionaire Terry Gou said he would not run as an independent for the island’s top job.
Lu, who served between 2000 and 2008 under president Chen Shui-bian, surprised former colleagues in the ruling independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party by standing against incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen and the opposition Kuomintang’s Han Kuo-yu.
“After weighing whether to run for several months, I finally decided on [Monday] to take part in the presidential election,” she said in Taipei, adding that she would represent the newly established Formosa Alliance Party.
Lu said she decided to run because she was worried about the long political confrontation between the DPP and the KMT, and the mainland’s attempt to swallow up Taiwan.
“For this, I decide to fight for Taiwan once again,” said 75-year-old Lu, who described her presidential bid as a “mission from heaven”.
Lu said she would apply to run as an independent because her party had never taken part in the island’s elections and so was disqualified from nominating a presidential candidate.
Under Taiwan’s rules, only parties that won at least 5 per cent of the total vote cast in the previous election can nominate candidates for the highest office.
Lu’s move came hours after Gou’s surprise announcement on Monday night that he would not run for the presidency.
“I [initially] decided to run for president because I hoped to lead [all sectors] in Taiwan into battle for the economy, but after I took part in the campaign, all I saw was politicians instigating hatred, confrontation and popularism for the sake of their own interests,” he said.
Gou, who founded Apple supplier Foxconn, said he chose not to run after “thorough deliberation”, and that his decision had nothing to do with persuasion by others.
Incumbent Tsai Ing-wen faces a challenge from former DPP colleague Annette Lu Hsiu-lien. Photo: EPA
On Thursday, Gou cancelled his KMT membership, adding fuel to speculation of his independent candidacy. His resignation came after the KMT published a half-page advertisement in several newspapers, appealing for unity and asking Gou to support Han.
Gou said the century-old party had long lost its ideals, and Taiwanese voters would never agree with the “out-of-date” KMT.
He also said the KMT primaries were weighted in favour of Han, and he had refused to meet the party’s nominee or KMT chairman Wu Den-yih.
The KMT praised Gou for “making the best decision at the crucial moment that is advantageous to [Taiwan]”. It said Gou’s decision helped safeguard unity within the party and its chances of returning to power in 2020.