Lien calls possible KMT coalition with DPP `booty-sharing'

KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) yesterday said it would be "political booty-sharing" if the KMT was to form a coalition government with the DPP despite their wide ideological differences.

Lien, however, said his remark should not be mistaken as meaning that the KMT will never ally with the DPP, because "the DPP may change. The KMT must stick to its basic doctrines and ideals. We must not pursue power and positions, which are transient, at the expense of our values," Lien said.

Lien said the KMT's basic ideals are to pursue freedom, democracy, constitutionalism, a free market economy and a peaceful society.

Generally speaking, Lien said, the different political parties in a country usually hold similar views toward the constitutional framework, though they may have different policy platforms.

However, Taiwan's politics are different from that of other countries in that there are wide differences among the various parties in terms of their recognition of the nation's constitutional framework, Lien said.

Lien reiterated his position that the party winning the majority of seats -- or the parties that form a majority alliance -- should gain the right to form the Cabinet after the year-end elections.

He said the formation of a coalition government is never a problem in advanced democratic countries. However, he added that a discussion of the issues surrounding the formation of a coalition government should be shelved until after the elections.

Though President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has said that he would seek to form a coalition government after the elections, he has not indicated any intention of surrendering the right to form a Cabinet.