Minkuotang Explained

Native Name Lang:zh-hant
Chairperson:Wu Hsu-chih
Foundation:13 March 2015
Dissolution:25 January 2019
Split:Kuomintang
Merged:Congress Party Alliance
Position:Centre-right
Headquarters:12F, No. 70-1, Sec. 1, Chengde Road, Datong District, Taipei, Republic of China
Membership:~5,000
Membership Year:2015
Flag:Flag of Minkuotang.svg
Colours:Gold
Country:Taiwan

The Minkuotang (MKT), also known as the Republican Party,[1] was a political party in the Republic of China (Taiwan).[2] The party was established on 13 March 2015 by former Kuomintang legislative representative Hsu Hsin-ying, with the founding assembly held on 18 March 2015. It was part of the Pan-Blue Coalition and then merged with the newly-formed Congress Party Alliance in 2019.

Party flag and emblem

The party flag of Minkuotang consisted of the National Emblem of the Republic of China in the center with a golden background, representing the party's aim of reviving and making the country wealthy. The flag was controversial for its use of the national emblem in its party flag, but the flag was later approved by the Ministry of the Interior.

Controversy

Soon after its founding in 2015, the party faced allegations that it was funded for religious causes, after it was revealed that prominent religious figure Zen Master Wujue Miaotian was supporting the party for the 2016 general election.[3] Party leader Hsu Hsin-ying denied the allegations, stating that the party "belongs to the people".

Electoral history

Party chair Hsu Hsin-ying switched party affiliations from the Kuomintang to the Minkuotang midway through her term as Hsinchu County legislator. She ran for reelection in the 2016 legislative elections,[4] but quit the race when People First Party chair James Soong chose her to be his vice presidential candidate.[5] The MKT fielded four total candidates in the 2016 elections,[4] and failed to win a seat.[5]

On 25 January 2019, the party was merged with the newly-formed Congress Party Alliance.[6]

Local elections

Chairperson

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: ELECTIONS: Republican Party pledges to pursue 'clean politics' - Taipei Times . 11 August 2020 . www.taipeitimes.com . 15 January 2016.
  2. http://www.moi.gov.tw/dca/02people_005-1.aspx?sn=10 內政部民政司公布之「政黨名冊」
  3. Web site: 妙天禪師主導? 民國黨成立的內幕是... - 政治 - 自由時報電子報. news.ltn.com.tw. 21 August 2015. 10 November 2015.
  4. News: Gerber. Abraham. MKT announces partial slate for legislative polls. 18 January 2016. Taipei Times. 11 September 2015.
  5. News: Gerber. Abraham. New Power Party wins five legislative seats. 18 January 2016. Taipei Times. 17 January 2016.
  6. Web site: 九合一大選失利 民國黨宣布:與妙天合併政黨-風傳媒. 2 January 2019.
  7. News: 竹縣長選戰認敗 徐欣瑩辭民國黨黨主席. 29 November 2018. 聯合新聞網. 2 December 2018. zh-TW.