Most New Taipei Residents Feel There Was Negligence in Enen Case 恩恩案民調 64%新北市民認「延誤就醫」

New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih and city officials have been under scrutiny due to the Enen case. According to a recent survey of New Taipei City residents, 64.4 percent of respondents say there was negligence in the case and 29.6 percent say they have less political trust in Hou as a result. 

New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih and city officials have been under scrutiny since the Enen case recording was published. During a public appearance on June 27, Hou said he is doing his job to the best of his ability.

Hou Yu-ih, New Taipei City Mayor: “The mayor has to do everything to the best of his ability in all matters, big or small.”

According to a recent survey, 64.4 percent of New Taipei City respondents say there was negligence in the case and 44.1 percent are unhappy with Hou's response. In addition, 29.6 percent say they have lost political trust in Hou. One expert says Hou's political intelligence will be tested by his decision to continue supporting city officials or abandon them to protect himself.

Chen Li-fu, Vice Chair, Taiwan Association of University Professors: “If he didn't handle this situation properly, it would mean the two city officials were following his orders. If he says he completely accepts how they handled the situation and they face political consequences later on, he would also then suffer the same consequences.”

Wu Chien-chung, Associate Professor, Taipei University of Marine Technology: “Opinion is split and we are moving toward a more neutral perspective. Are we seeing the beginnings of a spiral of silence in the pan-blue camp?”

Hou is in the last year of his term and has not yet announced whether he plans to run for reelection. Experts say the Enen case has been very politically damaging for Hou and could become an indelible mark in his political career.

新北兩歲童恩恩案隨著錄音檔曝光，讓市長侯友宜及局處首長深陷風暴，一早侯友宜出席未來智慧學校啟航活動，被問到因為恩恩案民調下滑，仍舊一貫回答全力以赴、用心做事。

新北市長侯友宜表示：「面對新北市的大小事，市長一定要全力以赴，好好地做好每一件所有，大家都很關心，市長更要用心認真努力地做好。」

台灣新政協會發布民調，顯示有64.4%的新北市民，認為恩恩有延誤就醫的情形，而且有44.1%不滿意侯友宜的處理態度，也因為恩恩案，有29.6%的民眾減少對侯友宜的政治信任。學者認為，侯友宜是否要繼續力挺兩個局處首長，還是棄車保帥，考驗他的政治智慧。

台灣教授協會副會長陳俐甫分析：「如果他沒有去做這個處置善後，就表示這兩個局長是代行他的職權，而他完全接受他們的作法，那他們兩個萬一所負的政治後果，侯友宜就是也會完全承受。」

台北海洋科技大學副教授吳建忠認為：「從這種消極表態裡面轉向為中立化的這種情況，我們可以看到就是說在藍營的部分裡面，是不是這種沉默螺旋的效應已經出現。」

市長任期最後一年，有沒有要拚連任，侯友宜四兩撥千金沒有正面回應，學者認為恩恩案對侯友宜政治聲望造成衝擊，除了牽動年底選情布局，這次處理的結果，也將會是侯友宜政治生命上一個重要的烙印。