Lien calls on DPP to look in the mirror

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) said yesterday the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) should use its anniversary to engage in introspection.

The DPP celebrated its 17th birthday yesterday with a gala in Taichung City Stadium.

"Maybe the DPP should take the opportunity of its anniversary to engage in deep introspection given that its support rate has dropped while that of the KMT has risen," Lien said.

Lien was referring to a poll by a local Chinese-language newspaper published yesterday. The newspaper's survey suggested that the approval rate for the DPP was 31 percent, a 20 percent drop from three years ago when the DPP first took over the administration.

Support for the KMT jumped to 49 percent, up 22 percent from three years ago, according to the poll.

People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) accused the DPP "of using high standards to scrutinize other [parties] while using low standards to easily forgive itself."

Soong said the DPP has lost its founding ideals.

Both Lien and Soong sent flower baskets to express their congratulations to the DPP for its anniversary.

Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (胡志強), a popular member of the KMT, was the only pan-blue member who made an appearance at the event last night.

The DPP had invited Hu in his capacity as the mayor to join the celebration.

Hu went on stage at the event, but, in a bid to play down the significance of his attendance, declined to give a speech.