Eric Chu

Eric Li-luan Chu (Chinese: 朱立倫; pinyin: Zhū Lìlún; born on 7 June 1961) is a Taiwanese politician, statistician, and academic who served as the chairman of the Kuomintang from 2015 to 2016 and from 2021 to 2025. Born in Taoyuan to a political family, Chu graduated from National Taiwan University in 1983 and earned his doctorate from New York University in 1991. After beginning an academic career as an accounting professor, he entered politics as a member of the Legislative Yuan in 1999, representing Taoyuan County. He then served as the magistrate of Taoyuan County from 2001 to 2009, the vice premier of the Republic of China under Wu Den-yih from 2009 to 2010, and was elected as the first mayor of New Taipei in 2010. On 17 January 2015, he was elected unopposed as the chairman of the Kuomintang, succeeding Ma Ying-jeou. On 17 October 2015, he was chosen as KMT candidate for the 2016 presidential election replacing incumbent candidate Hung Hsiu-chu. Chu was defeated by his opponent Tsai Ing-wen, and subsequently resigned his post as KMT chairman. As a result of the 2021 Kuomintang chairmanship election, he returned to his former post as chairman of the party.