Wu won Saturday’s KMT chairmanship by-election by garnering 156,000 votes. His only rival, Legislator Hung Hsiu-chu, received just 23,000 votes. After learning about Wu’s victory during his visit to the southern county of Kaohsiung, Ma said that he expects the chairman-elect to help the party win back power in the 2008 presidential election.

Also in Kaohsiung County, Wang urged KMT members during his visit to his hometown of Luchu Village to do their utmost to maintain the party’s image, while calling for the new leadership to reconsider a proposal to amend the party’s charter to allow the nomination of a member who is found guilty of a law offense in a district court to represent the KMT in a major election like the presidential election.

Wang claimed the proposal, aimed at allowing Ma, who is on trial for allegedly embezzling public funds, to join the KMT primary for the presidential election, has triggered criticism in society.

Ma was indicted Feb. 13 for allegedly embezzling NT$11.17 million from a special allowance fund budgeted for his discretionary use during his term as Taipei mayor from 1998-2006.

Both Ma and Wang are aspirants for the KMT’s nomination to represent the party in the next presidential election.

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