New Party chief calls predecessor `traitorous'

The New Party leader lambasted her predecessor and labeled him a "traitorous party chairman," local media reported yesterday.

Hsieh Chi-ta (謝啟大), party leader and a legislator who is seeking another term, criticized Lee Ching-hua (李慶華) for spending more than NT$90 million of party funds during the year he led the party.

Lee then left the New Party and joined James Soong (宋楚瑜) during last year's presidential election. "His political personality is truly contemptible," Hsieh said.

Hsieh stressed that prior to the presidential election last year, Lee forbade party members to publicly support Soong, one of the presidential candidates. In the end, however, predicting a likely Soong victory, Lee abandoned the New Party and defected, Hsieh said.

"With the kind of image he has fostered for himself, where does he get the nerve to attack our party's candidates?"

Hsieh made the remarks at a press conference held by New Party City Councilor Chung Hsiao-ping (鍾小平) yesterday, where Chung released financial records relating to Lee's term as party leader from March of 1999 to March of last year. Chung demanded that Lee provide an explanation as to how all of the missing funds were spent.

Responding to the accusations, Lee criticized Hsieh for making up rumors and blackening his name to win votes for New Party candidates.

Lee said that Hsieh's remarks violated criminal law and the Public Officials Election and Recall Law (公職人員選罷法).

"I don't rule out the possibility of suing over her personal attacks," said Lee, now a People First Party legislative candidate.

Lee emphasized that his integrity is beyond question. "Hsieh shouldn't dishonestly attract media attention just because she and her party are facing difficulties."

Lee failed to explain whether or how he spent the NT$90 million in party funds Hsieh alluded to.