KMT and PFP scramble after Liao rejects bid

Former justice minister Liao Cheng-hao's (廖正豪) decision not to run for Taipei County commissioner has dealt a major blow to the opposition alliance, which was yesterday feverishly looking to find a substitute.

The KMT said it was seeking an alternative choice, while the tiny New Party again recommended that Wang Chien-shien be recruited to reclaim the constituency from the DPP. The People First Party remained mum on the issue.

"The party is searching for an alternative candidate since Liao has turned down our invitation," KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) told reporters before attending the party's Central Standing Committee meeting. He refused to offer any names.

More exciting than usual

The question of who should be awarded the nomination triggered a heated discussion during the routine committee meeting, with KMT lawmaker Pan Wei-kang (潘維剛) suggesting that the party's secretary-general, Lin Fong-cheng (林豐正), stand in the race himself.

"Lin, who served as Taipei County commissioner before the introduction of direct polls, may consider running in the race," Pan said. Pan added that her idea had come from talk show audiences.

Lin, a former transportation and communications minister, smiled at the suggestion but made no comment after the remarks, Pan said.

To avoid dividing their voter support, the three opposition parties agree to jointly field a ticket for Taipei County, which has been under DPP rule for the past 12 years.

Once again, the New Party urged the bloc to consider nominating Wang.

"Upright and widely respected, Wang emerges as the most promising candidate to defeat incumbent commissioner Su Chen-chang (蘇貞昌)," New Party lawmaker Hsieh Chi-ta (謝起大) said.

Hsieh claimed that Lien was receptive to Wang's nomination and urged the PFP to approve her suggestion.

Wang, a pious Christian and former finance minister, has devoted himself to charity work since retiring from politics in the early 1990s.

"A man with a strong sense of mission, he would throw his hat into the ring if seriously asked to do so," Hsieh said.

The PFP, whose chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) led the pack in Taipei County in the presidential election last year, would not make known its intentions on the matter after being given the cold shoulder by Liao, though.

Soong says he's not stalling

In a public address yesterday evening, Soong denied he is stalling the cross-party venture but admitted the PFP does not always see eye to eye with the KMT or the New Party on a number of issues.

"There is no disagreement between Lien and me, but the proposed KMT-PFP cooperation has met with resistance from our supporters," the PFP party chairman said.

Meanwhile, KMT lawmaker Lin Jih-jia (林志嘉), who is also eyeing the Taipei County Commissioner's seat, reiterated that he would not bow out. He is to meet with Lien today, an aide said on condition of anonymity.

"With Liao bowing out, the KMT may take a U-turn and nominate Lin," said the aide, describing his boss as the optimal, if not the best, nominee.

Lin previously ran as a maverick candidate for the same position in 1997 and was kicked out of the party for doing so. It was not until after December 1999 that his party membership was reinstated.

History will repeat itself "if the KMT insists on passing Lin over," the aide said, adding that time was running out.

Both the KMT and the PFP intend to wrap up their nominating process by the end of this month.