Officials from the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) attempted to put to rest yesterday notions that the new party would siphon away votes from the DPP in the year-end legislative elections.
But DPP members remain unconvinced and worry that the planned cooperation could wind up weakening further the DPP's power.
"Now is the time for both the DPP and the TSU to expand their support base, not to attack each other," said Su Chin-chiang (蘇進強), spokesman for the new political party.
Su said the new party was committed to helping the DPP bring political "stability" to the legislature after the year-end elections. "The DPP should not haggle over every ounce with us with regard to how many voters they may lose in the election."
Those comments stood in contrast to Su's remarks on Thursday, when the spokesman said the new party's claim that it wants to advocate political stability doesn't necessarily mean it will help the DPP.
The conflicting statements have left some DPP members feeling uneasy about cooperating with the new party.
DPP officials yesterday accused the TSU of not living up to the intentions of former president Lee Teng-hui (
"We feel the TSU is actually taking advantage of the DPP," Wu Nai-jen (
Wu also warned the TSU against cooperating with other opposition parties after the year-end legislative elections, saying such a move would bring no political stability to Taiwan.
Huang Chu-wen (
Lee said earlier that he wants to help the minority government of President Chen Shui-bian (
Wu said the DPP appreciates Lee's help, but TSU's actions so far have been at odds with Lee's intentions.
Wu said the TSU, as an independent party, is certainly not beholden to the opinions of any other political party, but it should at least consider the intentions of Lee, the group's spiritual leader.
The DPP secretary-general said that party chairman Frank Hsieh (
DPP officials estimate that one-fourth of the candidacies of TSU politicians will have a negative impact on DPP nominees.
"We hope the TSU will show some political sensibility," Wu said.
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