Both the DPP and KMT claimed yesterday they would be the largest party in the legislature after the polls close tomorrow, a victory they say would give them the privilege of leading the formation of a majority alliance.
The DPP, which earlier forecast winning between 81 and 87 seats in the legislature, said yesterday that it would best the KMT by at least two seats.
The KMT said it would take between 85 and 93 seats, while the People First Party (PFP) said it may win more than 40 seats.
DPP Chairman Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) urged supporters yesterday to cast their ballots for the DPP instead of the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) to ensure the victory of the "pan-green" alliance.
"The TSU only needs to pass the [5 percent] threshold to win a share of the legislator-at-large seats," Hsieh said. "We believe the TSU can easily reach the goal."
Meanwhile, Chao Shou?po (趙守博), director-general of the KMT's Organization and Development Committee, denied yesterday that the party was sacrificing weaker candidates, who are unlikely to win tomorrow, in favor of stronger ones.
"We have strategies to ensure that the possible range of our seats will be between 85 and 93, but we will not abandon any party candidate," Chao said.
The KMT official also estimated that the DPP would take roughly 80 seats in the legislature, the PFP more than 30, the TSU less than 10 and the New Party between four and five.
The KMT is currently the largest party with 108 seats, the DPP holds 67 seats, the PFP 19 seats, the New Party eight seats and the TSU one. Independents hold 16 seats.
Meanwhile, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), through close aides, continued to suggest that KMT "heavyweights" will back his proposed "cross-party alliance for national stabilization" after the elections. The heavyweights include important politicians, financial experts and local faction leaders.
"President Chen forecasts that the DPP may get three to five legislative seats more than the KMT," an aide said. "Therefore, the ruling DPP can easily unite with other parties' lawmakers to form the cross-party alliance."
The aide also reiterated that Chen will likely announce the names of the 120 members of his proposed alliance before Dec. 10.
In addition, the aide quoted Chen as saying Lien Chan (連戰) will lose his authority to lead the KMT due to the party's likely failure tomorrow.
"Lien may not be replaced immediately because the KMT does not have another leader with a national reputation," the president was quoted as saying. "However, a chairman who has lost his authority will not be able to contain possible internal struggles."
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