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KMT, PFP want Liao to decide on election bid

County commissioner * Former minister of justice Liao Cheng-hao has stalled on announcing whether he'll run in an election for Taipei County commissioner. * Both the KMT and People First Party, while enjoying solid relations with Liao, have grown impatient with his indecision. * Meanwhile, KMT Legislator Lin Jih-jia and Chin Chin-sheng, deputy secretary-general of the PFP, have announced their intentions to seek the nomination. * The PFP and KMT will be jointly nominating candidates for the position in the year-end election.

The People First Party and KMT are growing impatient with former minister of justice Liao Cheng-hao (廖正豪), who has yet to say whether he'll run for Taipei County commissioner for the two parties.

Party officials yesterday urged Liao to promptly announce his decision to put to rest speculation that may hurt chances of cooperation between the two parties in the year-end election.

Politicians from both parties also called on authorities to listen to public opinion when selecting a suitable candidate.

"Whether Liao should run for Taipei County commissioner should depend on public opinion, not on the whim of the authorities," said Chin Hui-chu (秦慧珠), a PFP lawmaker.

"I don't think [Liao] will win the hearts of the voters if he is waiting for the mighty support of KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) before he announces his decision."

In a step that could pave the way for KMT-PFP cooperation in the year-end elections, last week Lien personally invited Liao -- currently an independent who maintains close relationships with both parties -- to run in the race for the Taipei County commissioner.

But since then Liao has remained equivocal, refusing to clarify whether he will run or not. His vagueness has led to fierce criticism from KMT Legislator Lin Jih-jia (林志嘉) and Chin Chin-sheng (秦金生), deputy secretary-general of the PFP -- two hopefuls in the commissioner race.

To ensure fair competition, Chin Hui-chu suggested that a public poll be held to assess the popularity of the potential candidates to determine who should get the nomination.

Echoing the PFP lawmaker, Lin said yesterday that authorities have seemed to lean toward conducting an opinion poll to determine the nomination, but that the issue remained unresolved as Liao had not declared his intentions.

According to Lin, rumors have been circulating that Liao's indecision is because the KMT has not promised him campaign funding of NT$365 million -- an amount which is equivalent to NT$100 for each of Taipei County's 3,650,000 voting residents.

"[Lin's] accusation is absolutely groundless," Chao Shou-po (趙守博), chairman of the KMT's Organization and Development Committee, told the Taipei Times yesterday.

Chao said the reason Liao had put off deciding was because of his family's opposition to his returning to politics, as well as the fierce competition in the race.

Liao quit the KMT in 1999 to support Soong, who insisted on running in last year's presidential race without the KMT's nomination. Soong was later expelled from the party for doing so.

Liao, however, never joined the PFP -- founded by Soong in March last year soon after his loss in the presidential election.

"Liao has promised to make a decision in one or two days. ? It's too early to say how to deal with the objections from the competitors [if Liao runs]. We'll have to await Liao's decision to proceed to the next step," Chao said.
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