President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) won't be attending Sunday's founding ceremony for a new political group that plans to back him after the year-end legislative elections.
The Presidential Office said yesterday that it would be inappropriate for the president to get involved in the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) -- or any other opposition party -- before the elections.
PHOTO: CHEN CHENG-CHANG, TAIPEI TIMES
"Any cooperation between the DPP and any opposition party should not begin until after the year-end legislative elections," a close aide to the president told the Taipei Times yesterday.
"The current task for President Chen is to campaign for DPP candidates," the aide said.
The TSU, which has the backing of former president Lee Teng-hui (
Still, many high-ranking officials within the DPP have complained loudly that the new party will wind up competing with the DPP's candidates for votes.
The Presidential Office aide said that, for now, Chen should keep his distance from all opposition parties.
Working with the TSU this early in the game "may lead to more conflict and worsen the current political deadlock," the aide said.
But Chen's absence from the ceremony doesn't mean he lacks confidence in the new party, the aide added.
Still, the president must maintain a neutral stance and wait for the results of the election before exploring opportunities for cooperation with other parties, the aide said.
Su Chin-chiang (
The party had been looking forward to Chen's attendance. The president was expected to share the stage with his predecessor, giving the party an invaluable publicity boost.
Meanwhile yesterday, the TSU -- bowing to pressure from the DPP -- said it planned to field fewer legislative candidates who are former DPP members.
"We have communicated with some of the former DPP members on our nomination list," Su said yesterday. "They will not be our candidates anymore."
The move comes after DPP Chairman Frank Hsieh (
Huang had said earlier that at least 15 DPP members had contacted him to express interest in representing the new group. That had led some DPP leaders to accuse the group of stealing the DPP's supporters.
The party plans to nominate roughly 40 candidates for the legislative elections.
The goal is for the TSU to win at least 35 seats and the DPP at least 85 seats, which would give the alliance control of the legislature.
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