I believe that most of the reservations have more to do with the fact that their party leaders dislike the DPP government, top among them President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Premier Yu Shyi-kun. Naturally, they do not like their policies, either. I have relayed some of their complaints to the Presidential Office, which will address them as it sees fit.
TT: How do you respond to reports that President Chen has substitute candidates, such as former premier Vincent Siew (
Yao: I learned [of these allegations] through the grapevine. Personally, I don't think it possible for the president to award the nomination to non-DPP members. The ruling party is teeming with capable candidates. As a matter of fact, the Presidential Office is trying very hard to help me, something about which I cannot go into details. I suspect those rumors are figments of the imaginations of certain unfriendly media outlets that wish to see me embarrassed.
TT: How are your ties with former president Lee Teng-hui (
Yao: You bet. I have sought to call on them all, as well as many other opinion leaders. It is said that Lee has asked Legislative Yuan speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平), who wields great influence in the legislature, to lend me a helping hand. During an earlier meeting, TSU Chairman Huang Chu-wen (黃主文) also expressed his support.
But thus far, I have not had the opportunity to meet with KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
TT: Do you feel indebted to your lawmaker wife, Chou Ching-yu (
Yao: She is indeed amazing and has outdone all others in helping me. But if confirmed, I would first thank President Chen for awarding me the nomination -- in line with political correctness.
RSS