Despite rounds of behind-the-scene negotiations, the opposition alliance is seemingly unable to agree on who will run under its banner in the election for the commissionership of Taipei County in December.
The main opposition KMT, eager to settle the matter before its national congress on July 29, revealed for the first time yesterday its intention to award the candidacy to party lawmaker Lin Jih-jia (
But the People First Party, whose chairman James Soong (
Refusing to be ignored, the tiny New Party touted again its elder and former finance minister Wang Chien-shien as the best choice.
"The KMT is inclined to nominate Lin, who is emerging as the most eager and promising candidate thus far," said party secretary-general Lin Fong-cheng (
According to Lin Fong-cheng, Soong gave a tacit nod to the arrangement during his meeting with KMT chairman Lien Chan (
Lin Jih-jia, softening his former aggressiveness, said he was not aware of the agreement but looked forward to reclaiming Taipei County from the DPP at the end of the year. He was accused of unfairly shoving former justice minister Liao Cheng-hao (
The opposition parties seem to stand no chance of victory as long as they are divided, because incumbent commissioner Su Chen-chang (
Insisting on calling the shots, the PFP dismissed the latest KMT move as another "trial balloon." PFP Vice Chairman Chang Chau-hsiung (
To pool their strength, the KMT reportedly agreed to give Taipei County to the PFP in exchange for Taoyuan County, among other battlefields.
Chang estimated that Lin Jih-jia would not be able to win over PFP supporters in the year-end elections. He did not elaborate on this statement.
Echoing the theme, PFP spokesman Hsieh Kung-ping (
In the meantime, the New Party made a fresh call that its founding member Wang should be given the nomination to end the limbo state.
"Taipei County is such an important battleground that the opposition must win," urged New Party lawmaker Lai Shyh-bao (
Saying that time is running out, the two recommended that Wang, a resident of Taipei City, should come forward and declare his candidacy and allow public surveys to settle any controversy for the alliance.
Aspirants living outside Taipei County must register their residency in the constituency four months before the election day to quality as formal candidates. July 31 marks the deadline.
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