Rift between KMT and PFP widens

Widening the fissure between the two opposition parties, a ranking KMT official offered to resign yesterday in a gesture of protest against the party's plan to dump its own candidate in favor of an independent in the race for the Kaohsiung mayoralty.

KMT lawmaker James Chen (陳健治), who has fought with the PFP over the joint nominee for the Koahsiung mayoral race, told reporters he has offered to step down as the party's head of Organization and Development Committee.

He spent an hour meeting with KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰), who according to Chen rejected his resignation letter out of hand and suggested he take a vacation to cool down instead.

Though saying he may yet resign, the KMT official set out for a trip to China yesterday afternoon.

In the letter, Chen asked the party to relieve him from the duty as director-general of its organizational affairs division. He also requested a leave of absence, effective immediately untill the party finds a replacement.

Chen reiterated his reservations about the party's intent to back former interior minister Chang Po-ya (張博雅) in the election for Kaohsiung mayor in December.

"It makes no sense for the KMT to abandon its own flag-bearer, Huang Jun-ying (黃俊英), and throw its weight behind an independent," he said. "The party should at least give Huang a chance to demonstrate his muscle."

Speculations abound that the KMT and PFP are nearing a final agreement to make Chang their joint candidate, thanks to PFP Chairman James Soong's (宋楚瑜) recommendation.

PFP Vice Chairman Chang Chao-hsiung (張昭雄) has expressed little interest in the mayoralty, though he earlier agreed to take up the gauntlet, if necessary.

The two opposition parties are expected to make known their final decision in a week's time.

"I offered to resign mainly because I don't want to be a stumbling block to KMT-PFP cooperation," Chen said.

PFP legislative whip Liu Wen-hsiung (劉文雄) has accused him of seeking to undermine the opposition alliance after he questioned Soong's wisdom in endorsing Chang Po-ya's candidacy.

Liu called Chen's loyalty into question, saying the KMT official was close to former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), now the TSU's spiritual leader.

Brushing aside the criticism, Chen said sarcastically, "perhaps the KMT should consult the PFP before staffing its organization department."

He again urged his party to heed the will of Kaohsiung residents when approaching the matter. Many of them look down upon a carpetbagger, the KMT official said, referring to Chang, who recently moved her residency to the southern city to qualify for the elections.

Chen, however, added he would give full support to any candidate agreed on by the two parties through a judicious mechanism.

Lien, though eager to placate Chen, reportedly told him the KMT should not allow self-serving concerns to influence its decisions.

The gesture, widely seen as a tacit nod to Chang's candidacy, came under fire from another independent contender, Shih Ming-teh (施明德).

Shih, himself wooing opposition voters, warned the two parties that they risk being inconsistent if they decide to embrace Chang.

"How can they convince their supporters to vote for Chang, who their lawmakers struck down as nominee for Examination Yuan vice president?" he said. "A turnabout would lend credence to the belief that both Lien and Soong have yet to outgrow the setback at the presidential polls two years ago."