KMT Political Newbie Protests Outside Kaohsiung Party Office 藍高議員登記風波 參選新人赴黨部抗議

KMT's Kaohsiung City Councilor Lina Chen, who originally announced that she would not run for re-election, has decided to run afterall. This has triggered much discontent from others such Chen Shih-ming who has decided to show up at the party office to protest and demanded Chairperson Hsu Fu-ming to resign.

“Safeguard youths in politics, counter injustice.”

Supporters raise placards to protest; KMT Kaohsiung Cianjhen Siaogang District city council candidate Chen Shih-ming discontented that the current city councilor Lina Chen, who supposedly was not running, suddenly registered to run in early September. This may not only impact the results of political newbies but also is disrespectful of primary election mechanisms. He brought supporters to the party office on Sept. 14 and demanded office chair Hsu Fu-ming resign to be responsible.

Chen Shih-ming, KMT City Council Candidate for Kaohsiung 10th District: “If this incident just passes without leaving a trace, in the future the "Lina Chen Provision" would become customary practice. Not only in Kaohsiung, but everywhere, even if the incumbent candidate or his or her assistant's poll results lose to new candidates, they can still use Lina Chen's provision to run.”

Supporter of Chen Shih-ming: “If you still do not give young people a chance, how are you going to win?”

Supporters screamed loudly in anger at the door; meanwhile, perhaps worried about party solidarity, KMT Kaohsiung mayoral candidate Ko Chih-en and Hsu Fu-ming remained low-key and did not respond. The office only sent out a representative to receive the protest letter.

Chang Yong-jieh, Executive Secretary, Third Div., KMT Kaohsiung Office: “We will accept his protest letter and submit it to the Chair.”

Lina Chen emphasized that running is to secure the guaranteed quota for women and increase a seat to vote for the election of the city council speaker. 

Lina Chen, Kaohsiung City Councilor (KMT): “If I run, then it will be that I have the chance, probably a higher chance than (DPP candidate Huang Yong-hsiu) to win. If I have a better chance to obtain the guaranteed woman's quota seat, that'd mean DPP would have one fewer seat and KMT would have one more seat.”

Lina Chen notes that she never intended to hurt the nominated candidate and harbors the hope that the party will unite in the last phase. As the year-end election is fast approaching, if the anger within KMT is not subsided soon, it may affect pan-blue elections.

支持者舉牌抗議，國民黨高雄前鎮小港區的市議員參選人陳識明，不滿本來不再參選的現任議員陳麗娜9月初突襲登記，不但可能衝擊新人選情也不尊重初選機制，14日上午帶支持者到黨部，要求黨部主委許福明下台負責。

國民黨籍高雄第十選區市議員參選人陳識明表示：「這件事情船過水無痕的話，那未來陳麗娜條款就會成為一個慣例，以後不只是高雄，只要各縣市只要老將的助理或是老將本人民調輸給新人，在初選中輸給新人的話，他都可以循陳麗娜條款（參選）。」

陳識明支持者說道：「你們還不給年輕人一個機會，你們要怎麼贏啊。」

支持者在門口激動大吼，也許是擔心影響內部團結，國民黨高雄市長參選人柯志恩跟主委許福明都低調沒回應，黨部只派出代表接過抗議書。

高雄市黨部第三組總幹事張永杰表示：「我們會接下他的抗議書轉呈給主委。」

面對黨內新人不滿，初選結束後才報准參選的陳麗娜再次強調，參選是為了搶婦女保障名額增加席次，更攸關議長選舉。

陳麗娜表示：「我進去參選的話，那大概就會變成就是說我也有機會，我可能比她（民進黨黃雍琇）還有機會拿到，那如果我比她有機會拿到（婦女保障名額）的話，就會變成民進黨少了一席國民黨又多了一席。

陳麗娜表示無意傷害被提名的參選人，希望黨內最後階段能團結。眼看年底九合一大選在即，初選提名卻引發國民黨茶壺風暴，若不盡快平息，恐怕影響藍營選情。