New Party's continued existence hangs by a thread

The year-end legislative elections may sound the death knell for the New Party if it fails to grab more than five percent of the total vote, a challenge its lawmakers described yesterday as tough but not insurmountable.

"If we carefully plan the campaign, chances are we can pass the five-percent threshold," said New Party lawmaker Chang Shih-liang (張世良).

"It is an uphill struggle but not totally untenable." Only parties that capture over five percent of the votes can claim the seats reserved for a national constituency and overseas Chinese communities. About 20 percent of the 225 legislative seats are allocated through proportional representation.

Chang said it is important for his party to distance itself from competing groups, notably the People First Party, without undermining the opposition bloc.

There are about 80,000 registered New Party members, most of whom are believed to back PFP candidates in the December elections.

Last week, former member Feng Ting-kuo (馮定國) left the party to run on the PFP ticket.

"That was really ungrateful," Chang said. "The party has nurtured him for so long."

Created in August 1993, the New Party revolves around those currently holding public office. At the head of the party is the National Campaign and Development Committee. The convener of the committee, currently Hsieh Chi-ta (謝啟大), serves as the party's leader.

Chang said he has yet to decide whether or not to seek re-election but believed that he would benefit from years of hard work if need be.

"Campaigning starts the very first day one assumes office," he said.

"The voters can tell the good lawmakers from the bad ones."

The 5 percent test will further decide whether the New Party can continue to qualify for financial support from the government.

The electoral codes require the government to provide NT$50 for each ballot garnered by political parties that pass the threshold.

Based on the 1998 tallies, the New Party would recieve NT$53.13 million in public subsidies each year, the KMT NT$232 million, and the DPP NT$140 million.

The sum is critical for the New Party, which has no other resources, noted New Party lawmaker Cheng Long-shui (鄭龍水).

Cheng, who is seeking a seat from Keelung, said he would not desert the party. In fact, he emphasized that Feng's defection intensified his determination to hold onto the New Party "at a time when its preservation is threatened," he said. "I want to stay on and help keep its flame from going out."

He added that ranking PFP officials have been in contact with him. On a platform of high moral standards, the party was able to poll 14 percent of the vote in the 1995 legislative elections, but a series of infighting shrank the figure by half three years later. Today, it holds only seven seats in the legislature.

Cheng said he would be lying if he said he was not anxious about the prospect of potential defeat.

To avoid that, he advised the PFP not to contend any legislative seat from Keelung in exchange for the New Party's support for its mayoral bid in the northernmost city.

By contrast, Levi Ying (營志宏), who won his office through proportional representation, appeared more at ease. He said he would return to practicing law if the party fails the 5-percent test.

"It is up to the voters to decide," he said.