Battle may erupt over legislative speaker post

Hong said the post of speaker should go to a KMT member to accelerate the party's likely split.

"A split in the KMT could destroy the opposition alliance and create a more stronger `pan-green' alliance," Hong said.

The lawmaker added that Wang should be the top choice because he has advocated pro-Taiwan policies and is close to former President Lee Teng-hui (李登輝).

Hong said that the next speaker would have to promise to carry out the president's campaign promise of legislative reform, which includes halving the number of seats in the legislature and creating single-member constituencies.

"So it's obvious that cooperation between KMT members and the `pan-green' alliance is a very powerful tool to accomplish reform," Hong said.