Reporter’s Notebook: Some KMT supporters wonder if bell tolls for ChiangBy Shih Hsiao-kuang / Staff reporterFormer vice premier Chen Chi-mai’s (陳其邁) landslide victory on Saturday in the Kaohsiung mayoral by-election shows troubled waters lie ahead for Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Johnny Chiang (江啟臣). Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Johnny Chiang speaks at an event in Kaohsiung on Aug. 2. Political watchers think former KMT chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) is interested in regaining the party’s top seat, with an eye on the 2024 presidential election, while Han’s camp has said that he also hopes to run for party chairman next year. Some observers see Chiang’s situation akin to that faced by former KMT chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱), who also led the KMT just after a presidential election defeat, and who faced an internal power struggle. Chiang must solidify his internal support before the end of the year, or he could become a lame duck if KMT members begin to see his chances of being re-elected are slim.

Source: Taipei Times August 16, 2020 15:56 UTC