TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) definitively ruled out seeking the Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) chairmanship Wednesday (Sept. 3) during a Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce (中華民國工商協進會) meeting, Taiwan's leading business organization. The KMT, Taiwan's main opposition party, has been searching for new leadership ahead of the municipal elections slated for 2026. Lu emphasized her unwavering commitment to fulfilling her mayoral duties to Taichung residents, declaring that "doing a good job and doing it fully" represents her sacred contract with the city's voters.
Lu spotlighted Taiwan's mounting economic challenges, particularly escalating concerns over tariffs, volatile exchange rates, and persistent energy shortages affecting businesses and households. She sharply criticized President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) administration for prioritizing political maneuvering over citizens' daily livelihood concerns, pointing to three failed recall attempts as evidence. Lu argued that these recall failures demonstrate the public's overwhelming desire for government officials to concentrate on economic recovery rather than divisive political conflicts.
Lu invoked former U.S. President Ronald Reagan's famous declaration that "Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem," urging Taiwan's administration to address fundamental economic issues. She referenced majority support for nuclear plant referendums, advising officials to prevent energy imbalances and communicate improvement strategies during cabinet reshuffles. Lu also quoted revered former Premier Sun Yun-suan (孫運璿), Taiwan's economic architect, emphasizing the need for government leadership to clarify Taiwan's future direction. ◼