Taiwan Popular Opinion is More Important than Party Standing in KMT Chair Ma Ying-jeou’s Future

Alan D. Romberg, Senior Associate and Progam Director of the Henry L. Stimson Center’s East Asia Program, was interviewed on 14 February 2007 by Jorge Liu of Taiwan’s Central News Agency on the political ramifications of KMT Party Chairman Ma Ying-jeou’s indictment on embezzlement charges and subsequent resignation from his position. Romberg notes that Ma’s indictment throws a large cloud of uncertainty over his presidential campaign, and public opinion would now weigh more heavily than his standing in the KMT on his prospects. However, the speed with which his case is prosecuted, especially if he is quickly found innocent of the charges, may determine if he could maintain his support base and win the election yet. Full text below (in Chinese).

Source: 劉坤原, “容安瀾：民眾反應比馬英九在黨內地位重 要,” 中央通訊社, 2007-2-14.

Jorge Liu, “Alan Romberg: Public Response is More Important Than Ma Ying-jeou’s Standing in KMT,” Central News Agency (Taiwan), 14 February 2007.