KMT-PFP to name joint candidate by end of the week

The "pan-blue" camp hopes to announce its joint candidate for the year-end Kaohsiung mayoral race by the end of the week, James Chen (陳建治), director-general of the KMT's Organization and Development Committee, said yesterday.

According to Chen, the KMT's nine-member nomination review committee could announce its choice of candidate for Kaohsiung mayor as early as tomorrow.

"Once that is done, we will sit down with the PFP to reach a consensus over a joint candidate," Chen said, adding that a consensus would be reached either through an opinion poll or negotiations with the PFP.

"If all goes smoothly, a joint KMT-PFP candidate will be decided this week without much ado," Chen said.

The PFP has selected its vice chairman, Chang Chao-hsiung (張昭雄) as its choice for joint candidate, while the KMT must still choose from former vice mayor Huang Jun-ying (黃俊英), former National Police Administration director-general Yao Kao-chiao (姚高橋) and Kaohsiung City Council Speaker Huang Chi-chuan (黃啟川).

Complicating matters is the number of contenders from the two parties as well the entry of former minister of the interior Chang Po-ya (張博雅) and former DPP chairman Shih Ming-te (施明德), both of whom are independents. The PFP has proposed that Chang and Shih should be taken into consideration as joint candidates for the "pan-blue" camp to take on DPP incumbent Frank Hsieh (謝長廷).

Chen declined to comment on speculation in a local Chinese-language newspaper that Huang Jun-ying would be the KMT's chosen candidate.

Meanwhile, PFP caucus leader Liu Wen-hsiung (劉文雄) yesterday dismissed reports that Chang Chao-hsiung has decided to pull out of the race.

Liu said Chang would only withdraw with good reason.

"[Chang] has never insisted that he run in the Kaohsiung mayoral race," Liu said. "If the KMT's nominee has a greater chance of winning than Chang, then that would be a good reason for Chang to withdraw from the race."

While Liu did not rule out Chang Po-ya or Shih, he said there was some opposition within the party to Chang Po-ya's obscure political position.

Liu, nevertheless, reiterated that his party has maintained a high degree of flexibility concerning the mayoral candidacy and will not rule out any qualified contenders.

Once the KMT reveals its choice of candidate, Liu said his party would prefer to decide on the joint candidate through negotiation rather than opinion polls.