Wasting no time in trying to realize President Chen Shui-bian's (
On Thursday, Chen told reporters accompanying him on a trip to African allies that he would form a majority alliance to help facilitate his policies.
The fledgling TSU, which has thrown its weight behind the proposal, said yesterday it and DPP allies have targeted 10 KMT lawmakers disappointed at their party's cooperation with the PFP.
TSU legislative leader Liao Pen-yan (廖本煙) said he had a meeting with his DPP counterpart, Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘), on Friday during which they drew up a preliminary list of whom they plan to recruit for the alliance.
According to Liao, the KMT's heavy-handed style of leadership has provoked a backlash among its lawmakers.
"Some are sick and tired of the frequent ousting of members who fail to toe the party line," Liao told reporters. He declined to reveal their identity for fear of putting them in a political predicament.
But Liao said that those KMT "malcontents" have one more thing in common: they all frown on the party's cooperation with the PFP.
He added that the TSU and DPP are reaching out to those lawmakers in an attempt to win them over.
Ker said that the majority alliance, aimed at preserving domestic political stability, would welcome any lawmakers who share the same conviction.
"The more, the better," Ker said of the alliance's membership. "If possible, I hope all 225 lawmakers will all agree to play a part in the cross-party venture."
Leaders from both the KMT and the PFP have spoken out against the alliance and are expected to take measures against defiant members.
Ker said he will soon visit TSU Chairman Huang Chu-wen (
The alliance, Liao pointed out, is actually Lee's brainchild. Earlier, TSU spokesman Hsiao Kwan-yu (
Echoing that worry, KMT lawmakers Liao Kuo-tung (廖國棟) and Chen Hung-chang (陳宏昌) said they would join such an alliance to help reverse the situation.
Liao, who recently got a reprimand for attending the vote on the confirmation of the Council ofGrand Justices nominees, said he would back DPP policy initiatives designed to promote public welfare.
But the Aboriginal legislator said he has no appetite for political squabbling.
"Don't bother to seek my support for issues that are political in nature," he said.
Likewise, Chen Hung-chang, who represents Taipei County, said he would vote for DPP bills favorable to his constituency and the country as a whole.
In February, he endorsed the Cabinet's request to strike down amendments to budget allocation rules in defiance of a KMT order and was later given a reprimand.
As for potential punishment, the four-term lawmaker said the party should think twice about such actions or it may see its ranks decrease further.
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