Opposition snipes at new DPP members

The opposition legislative caucuses yesterday called Cabinet officials slated to join the DPP a bunch of toadies who seek to curry favor with President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) in the hope of solidifying their positions.

Dismissing the criticism as sour grapes, the DPP caucus insisted it's commonplace for government officials to become members of the party they identify with.

KMT legislative leader Cheng Feng-shih (鄭逢時) said that by making politically appointed officials its members, the DPP is copying another practice the KMT has decided to part with.

"I guess I'm supposed to congratulate the ruling party for bringing so many political and social elites into its fold," Cheng said. "But I can't. The DPP, which has criticized the KMT for blurring the lines between the administration and the party, has chosen to do so itself."

Fifty Cabinet officials and intellectuals will formally become DPP members today when Chen hosts their welcome reception in his capacity as the party's chairman.

The KMT lawmaker expressed little surprise at the development, saying disdainfully that some of those would-be DPP members are known to have attributed their appointment to "amazing grace" or "a stroke of luck." He declined to specify anyone by name.

While in power, the KMT would pressure or coax government officials to join the party in a show of conformity.

Cheng warned the DPP not to become increasingly like his party, noting that the party won the presidency two years ago by ruthlessly attacking the then-KMT administration.

"The DPP should engage in soul-searching," he said. "Chen, who earlier assumed the DPP chairmanship in defiance of a campaign vow, recently urged his party to embrace the business community."

Before the power transfer, industrialists overwhelmingly supported the KMT.

Cheng, however, said he found solace in the fact that the DPP also backs the concept of party politics.

"I expect the government to quit blaming the opposition for any policy blunder now that many officials are DPP members," he said.

PFP legislative leader Shen Chih-hwei (沈智慧) said it is only natural for politicians to side with power.

Shen said she hoped those officials would not allow their partisan tag to cloud their judgment in policymaking. Going a step further, fellow lawmaker Liu Wen-hsiung (劉文雄) branded the new DPP members "shameless opportunists."

"I wonder why those officials who say they identify with the DPP platform waited two years to join the party," Liu said. "It seems obvious to me they are joining the DPP to demonstrate their gratitude for Chen's patronage, a practice that is pathetic and shameful."

DPP legislative whip Wang Tuoh (王拓) shrugged off the salvo of opposition charges as unfairly harsh.

He said it is unlikely the DPP would repeat the corrupt practices of the KMT, noting that the former neither owns any profit-making enterprises or wields a majority control in the legislature.

"It is commonplace for government officials to join a political party," Wang said. "I see no need to create a fuss over the issue. The opposition parties should spare their energy for supervising the government."