Cooperation attempts between the KMT and People First Party for the year-end elections suffered a setback yesterday after former justice minister Liao Cheng-hao (廖正豪) turned down an invitation to run in the Taipei County commissioner's race.
In a written statement published last night, Liao expressed his appreciation for the invitation, but after thorough consideration, decided not to stand in the race.
"Will our country continue to deteriorate at the current rate? Is slandering others the only way in politics? Is participating in political activities the only way to serve the country?" Liao asked rhetorically, before responding "no" to each question.
Liao said that given a number of considerations -- along with the opinions of his family -- he decided to decline the offer by the two parties to run for Taipei County commissioner.
Sources said before the written statement was released that Liao had informed high-ranking officials of both parties about his intention not to run after he met with PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) on Monday evening.
Liao's refusal to run prompted an emergency meeting between Soong and KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) yesterday afternoon to discuss a contingency plan. The plan must now address the possible absence of a strong candidate in a constituency which the opposition parties consider crucial.
Taipei County has been under the administration of a DPP-led government for 12 years. With a population of six million, it's the biggest county in Taiwan.
"Lien and Soong respected Liao's decision. While they exchanged opinions on the recent political development, they talked about what to do next in Taipei County," PFP Secretary-General Chung Jung-chi (鍾榮吉) told the media after the Lien-Soong meeting.
But Chung did not further comment with respect to who would be the most suitable candidate.
The list of hopefuls includes KMT legislator Lin Jih-jia (林志嘉); Chin Chin-sheng (秦金生), deputy secretary-general of the PFP; and New Party heavyweight Wang Chieh-shieh.
Chao Shou-po (趙守博), chairman of the KMT's Organization and Development Committee, said that the two parties would make a final decision "very soon" because "there is no time to procrastinate."
"The opposition parties will not be absent in the Taipei County constituency -- there are many other people who are interested," Chao said.
Liao's reference to "slander" in his statement yesterday apparently referred to accusations made by KMT lawmaker Lin Jih-jia (林志嘉).
Lin, a candidate in the race who had been frustrated over Liao's wavering on whether to run, on Sunday said Liao was holding out for NT$365 million in campaign funds before promising to stand in the race.
"I simply echoed the voice of the grassroots, because I thought the party needed to face the subject seriously," Lin told the Taipei Times, explaining the remarks he made on Sunday.
The lawmaker also said he believed his chance of winning the nod from the KMT and PFP had increased now that Liao is out of the running.
Lin argued that the KMT and PFP will be forced to cooperate in the Taipei County commissioner's race, otherwise the seat will return to DPP incumbent Su Chen-chang (
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