TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan’s opposition Nationalist Party picked as its new leader a woman it had ditched as its presidential candidate weeks before January’s election after a wave of criticism of her campaign.
Pro-China Hung Hsiu-chu, a one-time schoolteacher known by the nickname “Little Hot Chili Pepper”, won 56 per cent of the vote, a Nationalist Party spokeswoman said, beating three other candidates.
She becomes the first female leader of the Nationalist Party, which in January lost not only the presidency but also control of Taiwan’s parliament to the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Hung’s victory marks a comeback for a woman who in October was removed as her party’s candidate for the presidential election after a campaign riddled with gaffes and political attacks.
The change made no difference, however, as her replacement, Eric Chu, still ended up being trounced in by Tsai Ing-wen of the DPP. Tsai will take over as president in May from China-friendly Ma Ying-jeou who had held the position for the Nationalists since 2008.
