Lien bids an emotional farewell to KMT

Outgoing Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan, second right, gets a kiss from KMT Legislator Lin Yi-shih, right, during a farewell event yesterday. Taipei Mayor and Lien's successor Ma Ying-jeou, far left, claps his hands. PHOTO: WANG YISUNG, TAIPEI TIMES

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) yesterday said goodbye to the KMT at a farewell party, saying that the thing he most regretted was being unable to achieve a merger between the KMT and the People First Party (PFP) during his term as chairman.

The party was held after Lien presided over his last central standing committee meeting in his capacity as chairman, at the KMT's headquarters in Taipei.

Lien told reporters that he was "in a very good mood" and felt "relaxed" about leaving the party's helm. Lien will officially hand over power to the chairman-elect, Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), at the KMT's national convention on Friday. Lien will stay connected with the party, however, in his new capacity as honorary chairman.

Lien conveyed appreciation to high-ranking party officials who worked with him over the past five years and said he expected them to continue solving problems "from the people's perspective and need."

"I feel very proud and gratified that every KMT member worked so hard to serve the people of Taiwan and the Republic of China during the nearly 2,000 days of my term, which has been the most difficult time for the KMT since it moved from China to Taiwan," Lien said.

Lien thanked party officials for shouldering responsibility and working hard "without the backup of abundant resources and public power," and urged members to regard the KMT as the most important party in Taiwan and keep committing themselves to bettering the country.

The lack of a pan-blue merger during his term provided the only note of regret.

"The merger and cooperation of the two parties is not for the sake of power, but for carrying out our promises to the people. I feel sorry that we did not make it," Lien said.

Citing a poem by the ancient Chinese poet Li Bai (李白) to express his mood upon leaving the KMT, Lee said he felt relieved of a heavy load. Lien said he never read poems before he paid a visit to China, where Chinese officials often start their meetings with a poem.

Many female party members burst into tears during Lien's farewell speech.

A group of party members brought Lien flowers, and both Ma and Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) were also on hand to bid farewell to the party elder.

Wang said that he hopes Lien continues to offer his advice and assistance to the party in his new capacity as honorary chairman.

Ma also heaped praise on Lien's contributions. He lauded Lien for the scale and speed of reforms that he conducted within the party, and said Lien's visit to China was "full of wisdom and courage."