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Lien promises reshuffle

Legislative Yuan Speaker and KMT Vice Chairman Wang Jin-pyng (left), talks with KMT Chairman Lien Chan at the party's headquarters yesterday. PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES

KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) yesterday promised to reshuffle the party's Central Standing Committee by tomorrow to account for the KMT's setback in Saturday's polls.

The announcement, made during a meeting between Lien and KMT legislators-elect, came amid mounting calls from within the party that officials responsible for the KMT's losses step down.

Lien yesterday approved the resignation of Chao Shou-po (趙守博), director-general of the party's Organization and Development Committee.

In addition to Chao, Secretary-General Lin Fong-cheng (林豐正) and Wang Chih-kang (王志剛), director-general of the Culture and Communications Affairs Committee, have tendered their resignations.

As of press time, however, it was unknown if Lien would accept Lin and Wang's resignations.

Lien said the people have spoken and that the party would behave as a loyal opposition group. He noted that the KMT is still the largest opposition party in the legislature.

"Today the DPP not only holds the presidency, it is also the most seats in the legislature," Lien said. "We respect the DPP's right to form the government."

Lien said that although the KMT will not join President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) proposed "cross-party alliance for national stabilization," the party will not reject party-to-party negotiations with the DPP to discuss national affairs.

As the KMT shares a similar ideology with the People First Party (PFP), Lien said the party hopes to step up cooperation with that group based on efforts begun before Saturday's elections.

Most of the participants at yesterday's meeting expressed their full support for Lien's leadership -- seen as an attempt to defuse widespread speculation that the KMT might split yet again in the wake of another election humiliation.

KMT lawmakers, however, expressed their desire to see the party quickly implement reforms and clarify its platform soon to restore the people's support.

Legislator-elect Chu Fong-chi (朱鳳芝) said the KMT should debate the future direction of the party and its platform.

He said these matters deserve immediate attention, as many KMT members have already expressed an affinity for the DPP and allegedly are ready to defect to the ruling party.

Chu said much of the party's traditional support base was co-opted by the PFP in the legislative elections, mainly because the KMT failed to present a campaign theme that persuaded them to vote for the party.

The PFP, however, successfully appealed to voter concerns. Also, by listing party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) low on its legislator-at-large list, the party encouraged large numbers of people to vote for the popular and charismatic former governor and thereby the party.

KMT lawmakers, meanwhile, differed as to whether the party should go its own way or seek to ally itself with the PFP.

Meanwhile, legislator-elect Yu Yueh-hsia (游月霞) has launched a signature campaign to urge Soong to return to the KMT.

"There are complicated causes behind the KMT's failure, but the party's split was the main reason," Yu said.

As a gesture of goodwill to Soong, legislator-elect John Chang (章孝嚴) proposed that the party hold a provisional national congress to strike the so-called "anti-Soong" clause from its charter.

According to the charter, members ousted from the KMT are prohibited from becoming a member of the Central Committee or becoming party chairman for three years from the date they rejoin the party.
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