The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) held its first Central Committee meeting since the election last week to discuss the direction the party is to take in the future. KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
The recount has yet to start, so nothing is official at the moment. There has nevertheless been some discussion on the future direction of the party, assuming it is confirmed to have lost the election, and all kinds of possibilities were offered.
The first of these was that
the KMT and People First Party (PFP) merge, retaining Lien
as their chairman, with PFP Chairman James Soong (
If the KMT and PFP merge, Soong would take his place. Or the localization faction within the party could insist that Soong take a back seat in favor of a chairmanship by Wang or Ma. If the issue proves too contentious, the party merger may never happen, leading to a KMT vote on a Wang or Ma leadership.
Another possibility would be for the merger to go ahead, forcing the localization faction to split off, perhaps even joining ranks with the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) or being absorbed into the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Alternatively, it could be the localization faction that assumes power within the KMT, precipitating the departure of the pro-mainland elements who could join the PFP and the New Party.
This issue may be one of internal housekeeping, but the KMT-PFP need to be accountable to the people. The opposition, after all, has a responsibility to remain strong if it is to keep the government in check.
A weakened opposition demonstrates a lack of responsibility to the people, for their ability to control the excesses of the government are lessened. This is why a KMT-PFP merger would be welcome: to allow them to supervise President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) second term.
There are a number of things that we expect from the KMT and PFP in addition to their usual responsibilities of producing policies, cultivating talent, nominating candidates and keeping tabs on rival parties.
For a start, a merger giving them greater strength as an opposition party. Second, an emphasis on local consciousness and the prioritization of Taiwan. Third, a changeover in power to the next generation, making way for new talent and fresh ideas. Fourth, internal democratization of the party and the establishment of a primary system. They should also recognize the fact that they have both mainlanders and locals among their ranks, to differentiate themselves from the DPP.
If there is a merger, the resulting party should either be renamed the Nationalist Party, or the New Nationalist Party, losing the prefix "Chinese."
After a new leader from the next generation has been chosen and a new manifesto provided, the internal structure of the party needs to be reformed to bring about its democratization. The worst-case scenario would be for the KMT to become a localized party, and for the PFP to become pro-China, as this would lead us to a situation where all three main parties represent specific ethnic groups. This would be a long, slippery slope for Taiwanese politics indeed.
Pu Ta-chung is a political commentator.
TRANSLATED BY PAUL COOPER
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