The "silent public" is fed up with selfish politicians who have focused more on creating political turmoil than solving the nation's problems, former president Lee Teng-hui (
Lee was speaking at the founding ceremony of the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU), which claims him as its spiritual leader.
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
The former president yesterday encouraged the new political party to continue along the path of "localization" -- an ideology he made popular during his 12 years as KMT president -- and bring reform to the legislature.
"Solidarity is now the most important goal for all Taiwanese," Lee said. "The foundation of the TSU marks the awareness of the `silent public' who are fed up with the political parties."
Lee, the former chairman of the KMT, said that "localization" meant having love and respect for the land of Taiwan.
"The past 400 years of history in Taiwan is a record of our ancestors who emigrated across the Strait," Lee said.
"The land of Taiwan is the mother of us all."
The former president said yesterday that the public is growing more apathetic -- a result of the bickering that has characterized the nation's politics.
"The party politics prevailing on the island have deviated from the sound development of democracy and have damaged the island's economy," Lee said, speaking in Hokkien.
"I believe that the TSU will become a major power in reforming both party politics and the legislature."
Though he officially remains a member of the KMT, Lee has been closely involved in the organization of the new party, which plans to back the DPP after the year-end legislative elections.
After six months of preparation, the TSU yesterday approved its party charter and elected former minister of the interior Huang Chu-wen (黃主文) as its chairman.
Huang yesterday said that a major goal of the new party would be to bring reform to the legislature. The TSU has nominated 39 candidates for the Dec. 1 legislative elections, and hopes to win at least 35 seats.
"Chaotic party and legislative politics are the biggest barriers to Taiwan's democratization," he said.
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), who had been invited to yesterday's inauguration, congratulated the new party in a written note.
Chen declined to attend yesterday in order to maintain an appearance of neutrality and not offend members of his own party, some of whom see the TSU stealing votes from the DPP in the elections.
In his note, Chen lauded the TSU's goals of "stabilizing the political situation, reinvigorating the economy, consolidating democracy and strengthening Taiwan."
The president also said he was looking forward to cooperating with the TSU after the elections.
The new political group also officially unveiled yesterday its 39 legislative candidates.
The candidates, none of whom currently holds a legislative seat, include 19 KMT members, nine DPP members, two from the People First Party and one from the New Party. In addition, there is one member of the Taiwan Independence Party, three from the New Nation Alliance and four independent candidates.
As soon as the names were announced yesterday, the KMT and DPP candidates quit their parties.
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