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Soong, Lien snipe at Chen Shui-bian

The KMT and PFP stepped up their attacks on President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday, saying it was "inappropriate" for him to criticize the opposition parties while on an overseas diplomatic mission.

KMT Chairman Lien Chan and PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) said Chen, as the head of state, shouldn't go overseas at the public's expense to engage in "political struggle" against other political parties. The pair were referring to Chen's calls for a legislative alliance "for national stability." The president said constant opposition from the KMT and PFP made the alliance necessary.

"President Chen has slandered his country's opposition parties repeatedly overseas," KMT Secretary-general Lin Fong-cheng (林豐正) said yesterday after a meeting between Lien and Soong. "The two chairmen think such conduct is very inappropriate and unbefitting" a president, Lin said.

According to PFP Secretary-general David Chung (鍾榮吉), Lien and Soong think Chen's remarks indicate the president lacks a sense of what constitutes democracy, as it's the duty of opposition parties to monitor the government. Naturally the opposition will hold opinions different from the ruling party, Chung said.

Lien and Soong also say they want Chen to give a clearer explanation of his alliance plan before they react to it, Chung said.

Also yesterday, the KMT rejected reports suggesting that one of its vice chairmen, Vincent Siew (蕭萬長), will serve as a "bridge" for the defection of renegade KMT legislators to Chen's alliance.

Chen, during his African trip, said he recently had contact with a "very high-ranking" KMT official who was worried about the future of the KMT under Lien's leadership.

According to Chen, the KMT official had expressed fear that the KMT would "meet its doom" and witness the departure of more members if Lien continues his close cooperation with Soong.

Local media have cited unnamed sources close to Chen as saying that the "high-ranking KMT official" is Siew.

Siew denied the reports yesterday, saying he has never had any contact or discussion with the DPP about the possibility of helping KMT members defect to Chen's proposed alliance.

Siew, who is expected to take over the chairmanship of Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research soon, said he's more concerned about the nation's economic situation -- not politics.

Meanwhile, pro-localization KMT legislators -- including Shyu Jong-shyong (徐中雄), Chen Hung-chang (陳宏昌) and Wang Yu-ting (王昱婷) -- who reportedly are potential members of Chen's alliance, denied yesterday they have had any contact with the DPP.

But Chen Hung-chang said he would join the alliance if it were designed to improve the nation's economy.

Shyu firmly rejected the possibility of joining the alliance. A member of the KMT's Central Standing Committee, Shyu said he would commit himself to reforming the party and bringing it in line with with mainstream public opinion.

Wang, meanwhile, said the DPP shouldn't resort to recruiting renegade legislators to form its majority alliance and urged all political parties to stop trading accusations with each other. Wang said the parties should focus on improving the economy instead.
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