New Party fighting for its life as elections approach

Wang Chien-shien (王建　), the party's Taipei mayoral candidate, finished a distant third with just 2.97 percent of the total vote. An overwhelming number of New Party supporters rallied behind KMT nominee Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), a more promising contender.

Comprised mostly of ethnic mainlanders and their offspring, the party did not tolerate any attempt to split Taiwan from China.

To this end, party stalwarts frequently aimed their fire at Lee, whom they branded as a closet pro-independence advocate. Indeed, members like Elmer Fung (馮滬祥) gained their fame from vehement Lee-bashing.

"Parochial and exclusive, no wonder the party has problems building support beyond Taipei," noted one lawmaker, who gave up his party badge in early 1999.

In fact, with so much hatred directed towards one individual some say jokingly that once Lee disappears from the political limelight, the New Party will also cease to exist.

Trying to attract media attention, the New Party in 1999 surprised the nation by nominating a non-party member -- the flamboyant and controversial writer Li Ao (李敖) -- as their candidate in the 2000 presidential campaign. This despite calls by key party officials to pledge support for independent James Soong, an ethnic mainlander.

Soong, the former Taiwan provincial governor, proved a formidable candidate, missing the presidency by a margin of 2 percentage points. Two weeks later, he founded the PFP, which triggered yet another exodus of members from the New Party.

Earlier this month, legislator Feng Ting-kuo (馮定國) made a high-profile defection to the PFP to run on its ticket for the year-end elections. Although former colleagues have lined up to condemn his desertion, many are expected to follow suit in order to keep their political careers alive.

To claim proportional representation, the New Party must amass at least 5 percent of the votes in December. Failing that, the party will be disqualified from receiving government funds.

Experts have described the test as extremely tough, if not untenable. "It is impossible for the New Party to pass the threshold in light of its latest showing," said Edward Chen (陳一新), who teaches American Studies at Tamkang University. The party polled 0.13 percent in the presidential elections last year.

"That explains why even its leaders chose to leave," Chen noted.