DPP issues Wang an ultimatum

The pan-green camp yesterday reiterated that it would support incumbent legislative speaker Wang Jin-pyng's (王金平) re-election bid under the condition that Wang endorse DPP lawmaker Hong Chi-chang (洪奇昌) to be his deputy.

They said that Wang has until today to voice his support for Hong rather than the KMT-PFP candidate, KMT lawmaker Chiang Ping-kun (江炳坤) -- or the DPP would consider shifting its support to other candidates.

Wang has so far remained elusive on the issue.

But regardless of the stalemate between the two sides, former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) yesterday pledged his support for Wang.

"In regard to the election, my mind has never been changed. I support Wang for the legislative speakership and I support Hong to run for the vice speakership," Lee said after attending a meeting of the Taiwan Advocates last night.

Lee's open endorsement is expected to boost Wang's confidence that he will at least win the support of the 13 Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) legislators-elect.

With only one day to go before the election for the legislative speaker and vice speaker, Wang is trapped between the ruling and opposition parties. Both sides are waiting for his answer on whom he favors as his deputy.

But Wang has been unwilling to make his preference clear, stressing he is only vying for the speaker's seat, saying that he doesn't have the extra energy to carry someone else.

"Since the December 1 elections, my mind has been made up. I will only run for the legislative speakership. As for the vice speaker candidate, I have never said I would pair with anybody," Wang told the media.

He implied that his staying neutral indicates his goodwill.

"As a legislative speaker, the most important issue is to ensure smooth operations at the legislature and to maintain neutrality by keeping parties at an equal distance," he said.

Wang's response came after the DPP and the TSU requested that Wang speak his mind before they would guarantee the votes of 87 DPP legislators and 13 TSU lawmakers in tomorrow's election.

TSU Chairman Huang Chu-wen (黃主文) and DPP Legislative Whip Tsai Huang-liang (蔡煌瑯) shared the view that Wang has to throw his weight behind Hong in order to stabilize the political climate.

"The DPP has demonstrated the utmost goodwill to the opposition given that even as the biggest party in the legislature, it isn't nominating anybody to compete for the legislative speakership," Huang said.

"Following similar considerations, the opposition force should endorse Hong's bid so that the political ground can be stabilized."

Displeased with Wang's ambiguity, Tsai said that if Wang is unwilling to show his goodwill, the legislature will be full of friction even if Wang retains his seat because Wang will become a hostage of the PFP and the pan-green camp will question the speaker's integrity.

Meanwhile, Chiang continued to tour the country to solicit support from KMT and PFP legislators, saying he is confident he can win the vice speakership. Although some legislators from the KMT and the PFP are opposed to his bid, Chiang said he believes he can win their support.

Chiang said he hopes tomorrow's election will be fair and that the candidates should compete on their own strengths.