DPP asks members to wait for decision

DPP lawmakers planning to run for legislative speaker should quit making waves until the party decides what to do, DPP officials said yesterday.

"Until the president makes a final decision, I called on party members to stay put and follow the strategy carefully mapped out by the party," said DPP Chairman Frank Hsieh (謝長廷).

"I hope party members understand that it is our ultimate goal to see stability in the legislature. The country simply cannot afford to see any more turmoil," he said.

Hsieh made his remarks while attending the weekly DPP Central Standing Committee meeting at the party's headquarters in downtown Taipei yesterday afternoon.

There have been reports that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) have discussed incumbent legislative speaker Wang Jin-pyng's (王金平) candidacy, with Lee backing Wang.

Commenting on the KMT's official announcement of refusing to participate in the proposed "cross-party alliance for national stabilization," Hsieh said that he hopes that the KMT respects public opinion.

"What the public genuinely wants is party cooperation and national stability. I hope to see a political party offer more constructive suggestions than opposing whatever the ruling party proposes," he said.

The alliance, a 120-member group of lawmakers which would support the government's policy initiatives, was proposed by Chen during the run-up to Saturday's polls.

DPP lawmaker Trong Chai (蔡同榮), who has aggressively sought support in his bid for the position of legislative speaker, yesterday said that he will be more low-key in his campaign.

"It's like getting married. You simply cannot force someone to marry you if the other person is not interested," Chai said.

Chai announced his plan to run for the legislative speaker post after Saturday's elections. As of Monday, he had reportedly visited more than 80 newly elected legislators of all stripes to seek their support.