TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — KMT Chair Eric Chu (朱立倫) said Monday he is willing to step down as party leader, opening the door for new leadership ahead of the party’s internal election in September.
Chu said he looks forward to handing over the reins but emphasized that he will remain committed to KMT affairs until the end of his term, per UDN. He urged party members to focus on unity and supporting lawmakers facing recall campaigns, rather than on internal leadership contests.
Taoyuan Mayor Simon Chang (張善政) responded to Chu’s remarks by pointing to Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) as a likely successor, per China Times. Chang noted that while Chu mentioned four outstanding KMT mayors ready for greater responsibilities, Lu appears to be the leading candidate.
Chu also named Lu during his announcement, saying he appreciated the efforts by many in the party to support her potential candidacy. When asked about Chu’s comments, Lu declined to discuss political matters during work hours, per UDN.
Yunlin County Magistrate Chang Li-shan (張麗善) echoed Chu’s call to prioritize efforts against the recall campaigns targeting KMT lawmakers, per China Times. She warned that if the party loses more legislative seats, it would diminish its ability to oversee the ruling government.
Chang said Chu remains eligible to seek re-election as chair and welcomed healthy competition within the party.
Hsiao Hsu-tsen (蕭旭岑), director of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, described Chu’s decision to leave the door open for a possible re-election bid as pragmatic, per NOWNews. He warned that if Chu opts out entirely, the party’s morale could suffer, especially amid recall efforts and recent detentions of local KMT officials.
Hsiao added that while he believes it’s ideal for the party chair to lead the presidential ticket, Chu may be compelled to run for chair again if no clear successor emerges in time.
Still, Hsiao emphasized that if the KMT fails in the recall campaigns, Chu would likely not seek another term. He warned that the party's weakened local mobilization networks could significantly impact its performance in the 2026 local elections and 2028 general elections.
