No plan to attend inauguration: KMT caucus
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus members yesterday said they do not plan to attend president-elect William Lai’s (賴清德) inauguration on Monday next week, citing a preoccupation with official work duty.
KMT caucus secretary-general Hung Mong-kai (洪孟楷) said that the event falls on a Monday, a working day for everyone, and they as lawmakers have legislative committee sessions to attend.
“We are elected legislators and so the official business in the Legislature takes priority over everything else,” KMT Legislator Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) said.
A KMT member speaking on condition of anonymity said that “Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers have shown unwillingness to communicate with us. In these circumstances, it is meaningless for us to attend. For KMT legislators to go or not, it will not change anything.”
As of yesterday, KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) would not say whether he would attend the inauguration, while Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) and New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜), both members of the KMT, said they would not attend, citing scheduled city government activities.
On the other hand, KMT Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) said she would be attending. Her city government officials said the city council has an interpellation session on Monday next week, and Lu has agreed with city councilors to take a half-day off for her to attend the event in Taipei.
The Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) said its chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) would attend, adding that its eight lawmakers are free to decide on their own accord.
TPP caucus whip Huang Kuochang (黃國昌) said he would attend at least the first half of the ceremony, adding that he would be occupied with that day’s legislative committee sessions for the other half.
DPP Legislator Hsu Chih-chieh (許智傑) called on all lawmakers from the governing and opposition parties to attend the inauguration ceremony.
“Winning or losing in the election is only for the time being, but our nation’s development is for the long term. We hope the KMT could put off the political wrangling, and join with TPP members at the event.”
DPP caucus secretary-general Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) questioned the KMT lawmakers’ reasoning.
“KMT legislators willingly headed overseas on a visit to Beijing when our legislature was in session, and 20 KMT and TPP legislators have signed up to visit Itu Aba Island (Taiping Island, 太平島),” she said.
“Why would KMT legislators refuse to attend the inauguration ceremony, which is held a few minutes from the Legislative Yuan in front of the Presidential Office Building?” Wu asked.