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Lien, Soong must work on their duties now

A US scholar of politics once said that the vice president is actually the loneliest politician in the US White House.

Although the position is lofty, a vice president has no substantial power at all. Although the vice president can share the president's worries, he or she can't share the president's statutory responsibilities.

Hence, during a presidential election campaign, the role of a vice presidential candidate is defined as a running mate.

Neither ability nor resolution of a vice presidential candidate are primary considerations. Rather, he or she is nominated in order to attract votes from all sides with his or her fame and popularity.

For the pan-blue cooperation between KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜), the definition of the role of the vice presidential candidate is a very important issue.

The alliance

The KMT-PFP alliance should deal with the matter openly, and clearly draw up the division of leadership between the two men on the basis of the nation's Constitution.

Otherwise, the parties risk having a vice presidential candidate that will want to outshine the presidential candidate, causing pan-blue voters to wonder who they are really voting for.

When the alliance was formed, the terms of the agreements were released in their joint memorandum, and were fully understood by the public. Since Soong has already agreed to be Lien's running mate, he should use his fame and popularity -- mostly accumulated during his term as governor of the former Taiwan provincial government -- to further unite the "pan-blue" camp.

The delay

However, the legislature's decision to delay the confirmation of the nominees for the Council of Grand Justices and the exposure of the alleged secret pact between Soong and Lien have demonstrated Soong's ambition and resolve.

We can't help but wonder: Will a second ambitious vice president who wants to accomplish great tasks appear in Taiwan?

Looking at Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) administration, we can see that an excessively ambitious vice president may easily hurt his or her close relations with the president. A vice president is destined to be lonely and voiceless.

Waves and wind

After launching a joint campaign, Lien and Soong should have made a good impression on voters, making them believe that the two are partners who closely cooperate with and fully trust each other. Although both the KMT and the PFP strongly denied the alleged secret agreements on future government leadership, I personally believe that "there are no waves without wind," as the Chinese saying goes.

Weaknesses

Although the Lien-Soong ticket does enjoy certain fundamental advantages, it has three fatal weaknesses: One, the combination of the two old men -- who are both in their 60s now -- will be unable to attract young voters.

Two, the closed-door politics they employ will only irritate the moderate voters.

Three, their pro-unification stance can hardly gain the public's trust.

If Lien and Soong really want to bring new hope to Taiwan, they should make the KMT-PFP should come up with a younger combination and actively promote "sunshine politics" and a pro-Taiwan stance to get rid of their old baggage.

Chiou Chang-tay is director of the Research Center for Public Opinion and Election Studies.

TRANSLATED BY EDDY CHANG
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