The KMT continued to take a wait-and-see approach to alleged disciplinary violations by former president and party chairman Lee Teng-hui (
Chen Kang-chin (陳庚金), director-general of the KMT's Evaluation and Discipline Committee, said the committee needs to weigh cautiously any possible "consequences" before deciding to take disciplinary action against Lee.
While Lee's conduct has indeed hurt the KMT, action against Lee might harm the party, Chen said.
"The KMT will choose the lesser of two evils and seek to reduce any harm to the party to its lowest possible level," Chen said.
Chen said his committee will continue to watch Lee's speeches and conduct before making a decision on how -- and when -- to deal with him.
Lee's open support of the TSU, which he expressed at the TSU's foundation ceremony and a training workshop, has been considered by some KMT members as a challenge to the party's resolve. Lee's attendance at yesterday's rallies will likely fuel that criticism.
Though the KMT expelled two former vice chairmen, Lin Yang-kang (
The KMT on Aug. 15, however, did expel 11 members who joined the TSU and who will represent the newly-founded party in the year-end legislative elections.
Emile Sheng (盛治仁), an assistant professor of political science at Soochow University, said though Lee is less influential now, there are still a number of people who approve of his past contributions to the nation. "A certain percentage of these people are affiliated with the KMT politically," Sheng said.
Unlike the DPP's supporters, who usually have a high level of loyalty to their party, KMT supporters tend to follow a leader, Sheng said.
"In the event a leader leaves the [KMT] or establishes a new party, he may take his supporters with him," Sheng said.
RSS