Source: Straits Shinkansen WeChat
According to Taiwanese media reports, at the Chinese Kuomintang Central Committee meeting on June 29, the Party Central Committee formally recruited Ke Zhien, CEO of the Kuomintang think tank, to run for election Mayor of Kaohsiung Taiwan's "Farmland and Water Conservancy Administration" Former Miaoli Management Director Xie Fuhong is running for election as Miaoli County Magistrate. Ke Zhien also posted on Facebook that after much thought, he decided to fight for the transformation, rebirth and prosperity of Greater Kaohsiung, and said that he would "go all out."
Picture source: Ke Zhien's Facebook
Previously, the Kuomintang Central Committee "parachuted" Zhang Shanzheng to run for mayor of Taoyuan, causing internal conflicts; how to organize the election of Kaohsiung City, which has experienced a blue-green flip, is also of great concern to the outside world. Zhang Shanzheng was diagnosed positive for COVID-19 through rapid screening on the 29th, and all his original plans were cancelled. As for
Green Camp, Ke Zhien has long been regarded as an imaginary enemy. According to Taiwanese media reports, before Ke Zhien was formally recruited, DPP Councilor Li Yahui and three other people held a press conference early in the morning, asking Ke Zhien three times: "Can he promise not to elect a representative in '2024'?" Attitude: "Whether to help incompetent members to elect", and questioned whether Ke Zhien will be "Korean Yu2.0".
Chen Qimai, the current mayor of Kaohsiung, has also expressed his position in advance as the "host". When interviewed on the morning of the 29th, Chen Qimai said: "I think she is a guest from afar. I believe that after she (Ke Zhien) comes, she will experience the enthusiasm of Kaohsiung people."
Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Qimai's file photo, source: Taiwan media
Ke Zhien, 60, is a professor at Tamkang University in Taiwan. He was born in Pingtung County, Taiwan Province. His father, Ke Wenfu, once served as the county magistrate of Pingtung County. After graduating from the Education Department of National Chengchi University, Ke Zhien went to Michigan State University in the United States to study for a master's degree in education. He then returned to Taiwan to serve as a university lecturer and devoted himself to television media. He won the Taiwan Golden Bell Award for Educational and Cultural Program Host, and then went to the United States. in Educational Psychology from the University of Southern California.
In 2016, Ke Zhien was nominated by the Chinese Kuomintang to serve as Taiwan's non-districted democratic representative and was elected. In 2020, he represented the Kuomintang in the Banqiao East District Democratic Representative election, but lost to Luo Zhizheng, the nominee of the Democratic Progressive Party.
Party Chairman Zhu Lilun and New Taipei Mayor Hou Youyi both strongly supported the recruitment of Ke Zhien to serve as mayor of Kaohsiung. According to earlier reports by Taiwan media, Zhu Lilun consulted former Kaohsiung City deputy mayors Li Sichuan and Ye Kuangshi about their wishes before visiting the United States, but neither of them had any intention of taking action. Therefore, Ke Zhien, who ranked first and second respectively in two internal polls of the Kuomintang, became the first choice. Ko Chi-en, who originally had no intention of running for election, softened his attitude after being persuaded by veteran Taiwanese media figure Zhao Shaokang and New Taipei City Mayor Hou Youyi.
Taiwan media analyzed that in Zhu Lilun's eyes, Ke Zhien is a "safety card". Compared with Zhang Yazhong and Yang Zhiliang, there is less risk of "losing control" in the middle of the election campaign. He is also considered to be the pan-blue camp's ability to win among Kaohsiung factions. The "greatest common denominator" of acceptance.
On the other hand, as early as the 23rd, Ke Zhien went to visit Wang Jinping, the former head of Taiwan’s legislative body, and Wang Jinping called local people in Kaohsiung City. According to Taiwanese media reports, including Kaohsiung City Farmers Association Chairman Xiao Hanjun and Kaohsiung City Council Deputy Speaker Lu Shumei, etc., all received calls. This move is also considered to be a very correct starting move by Ke Zhien. In a previous interview with
, Ke Zhien calmly accepted the outside world's claim that he "airborne" to Kaohsiung, and even laughed at himself that he did not land by air, but simply "dumped" it. Ke Zhien also said that if she is recruited to run for the election, she will dress up and leave Kaohsiung within 24 hours, and be ready for battle. She also said that she will work hard in Kaohsiung in the future and use her whitening calves to travel around Kaohsiung City.
It is worth mentioning that in Kaohsiung, it has almost become normal for mayoral candidates to be airborne. Former mayors Wu Dunyi, Hsieh Chang-ting, Chen Ju, and Han Guoyu are not locals of Kaohsiung.
In addition, the editor also observed that in this year’s “nine-in-one” election campaign on the island, the number of female county mayor nominees from all political parties has increased significantly. Taking the Chinese Kuomintang as an example, in addition to the current seven female county mayors, Nantou County has nominated the Democratic Representative Hsu Shuhua, Kaohsiung City has nominated Ke Zhien, and at least 9 female candidates have started.In Chiayi County, where there is still no definite candidate, it was previously possible that the chairman of the Kuomintang Cultural Communication Committee Wang Yumin or the chairman of the Chiayi County Women's Association Wu Liangyi would participate in the battle. No matter which of the two is successfully recruited, the number of female candidates for the Chinese Kuomintang this time will be higher. There will be more than 10 people.
As for Ke Zhien, who has already shouted "Report in Kaohsiung", how can he unite the blue camp in a short time in the future, stir up the enthusiasm of the blue camp's basic base, and then use his unique personal charm and policy issues to attract the recognition and support of the middle voters? , remains to be seen. [Source: Strait Shinkansen WeChat Text/Wang Liu]
