The People First Party (PFP) yesterday broke off its alliance with the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), saying it would contest seats in the legislative election and invite well-known figures to be a part of its legislator-at-large roster.
PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜), who recently blamed the KMT for what he called lack of cooperation ahead of the elections in January, said he would run in either the presidential or legislative election to boost support for PFP candidates.
Former independent legislator Li Ao (李敖) and writer Chang Hsiao-feng (張曉風) are rumored to be on the PFP’s legislator-at-large list.
Chang, who recently attracted attention with her strong opposition to a proposed biotechnology research park near a Taipei wetland, yesterday confirmed that the PFP had invited her to be on its legislator-at-large roster. She said she would decide whether to accept the offer by the end of this month.
“I am a writer and teacher, and I have never waded into politics so I am not sure I can be a good politician,” she said.
PFP Secretary-General Chin Chin-sheng (秦金生) praised Chang for her integrity and positive public image as a writer and environmentalist, but declined to confirm whether she or any others were on the party’s legislator-at-large list.
Legislator-at-large seats are delegated based on the proportion of the vote each party receives. The PFP is aiming to garner at least 5 percent of the vote — the threshold for securing legislator-at-large seats — by nominating at least 15 candidates, Chin said.
When asked to comment on Soong’s possible decision to take part in the legislative elections, Chin said the PFP chairman would not make a final decision until he has received more advice.
“What’s certain is that the PFP will not be absent from the legislative election. We will seek the public’s support as we work hard to make Taiwan’s society a more democratic one,” he said.
The rift between the PFP and the KMT emerged last month after the latter called on Soong’s party to cooperated with regard to legislative nominations.
The PFP, once a close ally of the KMT, lashed out at the KMT for its “lack of sincerity” by only asking for the PFP’s cooperation at election time.
Facing a pan-blue split in the elections, the KMT continued to call for the PFP to cooperate, despite an obvious reluctance from its ally.
KMT spokesperson Lai Su-ju (賴素如) said the KMT would continue its efforts to hold talks with the PFP in hopes of cooperating in the legislative elections, adding that the KMT did not discount the possibility of arranging a meeting between Soong and President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).
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