KMT may not choose leadership candidate next month: chairman

Taiwan's ruling party Kuomintang (KMT) does not have to come up with its nominee for the 2016 leadership election in April, KMT chairman Eric Chu said Saturday, ignoring concerns over who will represent the party in its rivalry with the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

At a gathering with young KMT councilors in Kaohsiung, Chu said the KMT usually decides its candidate for the leadership election between April and June.

Chu said he has taken note of the petition by more than 30 KMT lawmakers urging him to run for the 2016 leadership election.

To date, there has been no KMT party member announcing their bid to seek a party candidacy endorsement and the KMT has yet to decide the date and procedure for its primary.

Taiwan's leadership and legislative elections will be held on Jan. 16 next year.

Chu, 53, replaced Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou as KMT chairman on Jan. 19.

Whoever becomes the KMT nominee will have to run against Tsai Ing-wen, DPP chair, who has been nominated by DPP as the party's candidate for the leadership election. Tsai, 59, lost to incumbent leader Ma Ying-jeou in her 2012 race.