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KMT to have by-election in mid Nov

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-10-27 05:03

The Kuomintang (KMT) on Monday decided to hold a by-election of its Central Standing Committee in mid November after committee members were either ousted or forced to turn in resignations following a vote-buying scandal.

The by-election will be held on November 14 and votes will be counted in six designated districts to avoid vote-buying, according to a KMT meeting held in Taipei Monday night.

All newly-elected members of the KMT Central Standing Committee will take office on November 18, according to a decision reached during the meeting.

The move came after Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou vowed to press ahead with reforms within the KMT and called a halt to unhealthy voting practices after he was elected the party's chairman on October 17.

Related readings:  Taiwan's Ma takes office as KMT chairman  Top CPC, KMT leaders meet first time in 60 years  KMT chairman post for Ma sign of closer ties  KMT chairman arrives for cross-Straits forum

Ma said before Monday's meeting that it was urgent to have the by-election as the incumbent members and backups of the KMT Central Standing Committee had applied for resignation and a valid meeting is falling short of committee members.

He emphasized the importance of having a successful by-election in an effort to impress the people in Taiwan with KMT's "fresh new look".

On October 11, 32 people were elected members of the KMT Central Standing Committee.

However, KMT participants complained of vote-buying during the election and prompted discipline authorities to launch investigations.

The party approved a decision to remove two from their newly-elected positions as the Central Standing Committee members after they were found being involved in vote-buying.

Following the removal, 21 members of the KMT Central Standing Committee applied for resignation to oppose vote-buying and prove their innocence and another 11 candidates gave up their positions as backups.

Discipline authorities of the KMT will continue their investigations into the vote-buying case, according to a decision reached at Monday's meeting.