Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) officials yesterday urged former chairman Ma Ying-jeou (
Although Wang and Ma have declared their intention to seek the presidency next year, neither has formally announced that he would register in the KMT primary. Some supporters fear a pan-blue split similar to the 2000 election if one of the candidates should declare his candidacy as an independent.
So far, Ma and Wang have not indicated that they would be willing to play second fiddle and run as the vice-presidential candidate on the party's ticket.
KMT Acting Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄) met with Ma and Wang separately yesterday, and said that he suggested to each that they should select the other as their running mate if nominated as the KMT's presidential candidate.
"We don't know whether it will be a Ma-Wang ticket or a Wang-Ma ticket yet, but at least the two camps can compete with goodwill, and seek further cooperation by following this suggestion," Wu told a press conference at KMT headquarters yesterday.
After private meetings with Ma on Tuesday and yesterday, Wu said that Ma had promised to consider the matter, but refused to say outright that he would pair with Wang.
Earlier yesterday, during an event in Neihu, Ma and Wang both denied having a problematic relationship with the other.
"We [Wang and I] had a nice chat today about the development of Neihu Technology Park. This is a good start," Ma said.
Recent disputes over how to conduct the party chairmanship by-election and fierce competition between Wang and Ma for the presidential nomination have agitated pan-blue supporters, and legislators yesterday urged the KMT's leadership to find a compromise.
"We hope both camps will cooperate and will not generate rumors. It's like parents are fighting and asking their children to take sides. We don't know what to do," KMT Legislator Huang Chao-shun (黃昭順) said.
KMT Legislator Ho Tsai-feng (
"If Wang and Ma fail to build a harmonious relationship, we legislators will have no chance in the legislative elections," Ho said.
Wu said he has spared no effort in communicating with Wang and Ma about the importance of party unity ahead of next month's party primary, and added that he had warned staffers from the two camps not to "make mischief" for their counterparts.
The legislative speaker, however, poured cold water on Wu's optimism, saying only that he would only consider Ma as his vice-presidential running mate, while flat-out refusing to say that he would take a place in Ma's shadow.
"To invite [Ma] to be vice president is one thing, whether he would accept [the invitation] is quite another," Wang said when asked to comment on the possibility of joining up with his rival.
Still, Wang said Wu's suggestion was a good idea, adding that he had promised Wu that he would invite Ma to run as his vice president if he secures the KMT's presidential nomination.
But he refused to say he would be Ma's vice president.
"I don't answer hypothetical questions," Wang said.
Wu had an 80-minute closed-door meeting with Wang yesterday as part of his effort to coordinate the party's presidential candidacy.
But Wang said that he didn't touch on "questions of a personal nature" during the talk with Wu.
"We talked about the principle of coordination -- the party needs cooperation and solidarity -- not a method to decide the party's presidential candidate," Wang said.
Wang said he discussed the party's recommendations for members of the Control Yuan and nomination strategy for the year-end legislative election with Wu.
He said cooperation between him and Ma could only happen if KMT honorary chairman Lien Chan (
Meanwhile, Wu declined to confirm whether or not he would run in the party's chairmanship by-election, as applications for candidates can be accepted beginning today.
"Be patient. You will know [today] ... There will have to be someone who comes forward and takes the position, right?" Wu said.
After Ma resigned as KMT chairman following his indictment on corruption charges, Wu has been the Ma camp's preferred candidate to take over the post, while Wang has favored Lien's return.
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