President Chen Shui-bian (
Although Liu wasn't specific, it is understood that most PFP legislators-elect feel that the current speaker, Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) of the KMT, will succeed in his bid for re-election since the PFP has agreed to cooperate with its opposition counterpart. The two parties have a fragile majority of 114 seats between them in the 225-seat legislature.
However, it is still unclear who Wang will pick as his running mate for the position of vice speaker. That position carries with it heavy political undertones, particularly with the incoming legislature having a decidedly different make-up from its predecessor.
Wang took the position of speaker from Liu three years ago after a fierce fight within the KMT, of which Liu was then a member. The competition drove a wedge between the two former comrades and led to Liu's breaking away from the party and eventually joining the PFP.
Observers say this is probably why Soong is stopping short of publicly endorsing Wang's candidacy for speaker after meeting with KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) on Wednesday. It is believed Soong preferred not to offend Liu by giving the PFP's support to Liu's former rival.
Most PFP lawmakers believe Wang is likely to choose a DPP lawmaker as his running mate given that the DPP, with 87 seats, will be the largest party in the new legislature.
PFP lawmaker Liu Wen-hsiung (
But the idea was rejected by party leaders because such an alliance with the KMT would antagonize the DPP and accelerate its efforts to lure away those KMT lawmakers who sympathize with the DPP.
In that case, Liu Wen-hsiung said, not only will the PFP's attempts at the vice speaker be thwarted, but Wang's bid for the position of speaker will also be jeopardized and, therefore, cooperation between the two opposition parties could be ruined.
This may explain why the PFP legislative spokesman, Hsieh Chang-chieh (謝章捷), said last week that the PFP prefers to stay on the sidelines in the race for legislature chiefs and will instead throw its weight behind Wang's re-election bid.
But that doesn't means the PFP will support any person chosen by Wang as his running mate. The party would rather keep its options open regarding candidates.
A PFP source close to its chairman, James Soong (宋楚瑜), said the former Taiwan provincial governor would support Wang's bid for re-election by refraining from entering a PFP candidate, but is opposed to any DPP candidate for the positions of speaker or vice speaker.
This stance might not change the result of the race, but will underline its role as the third-largest party in the new legislature, the source said.
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