DPP unfazed by joint bid

The green camp yesterday said it wasn't worried about the proposed joint presidential bid by the KMT and PFP, noting the two parties made similar gestures but ended up going their own way in past elections.

DPP legislative whip Wang Tuoh (王拓) said it was premature to speculate on the prospects of a KMT-PFP ticket for the presidential election in 2004, as cooperation between the two parties has been precarious.

Hours earlier, KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and his PFP counterpart James Soong (宋楚瑜) issued a joint statement saying the two parties will field a joint candidate in 2004. The two also agreed to put together a ruling team to replace the DPP administration, which they criticized as inept.

Wang expressed fears, however, that the opposition's renewed alliance will sharpen partisan rivalry in the legislature.

"To embarrass the government, opposition lawmakers will surely make more efforts to block DPP policy initiatives before the presidential poll," he said, adding many bills designed to boost the economy have yet to be placed on the legislative agenda.

Together, the KMT and the PFP control a majority of seats on the Procedure Committee.

However, Wang cast doubt on the sincerity of the KMT-PFP teaming, as neither appears willing to play second fiddle.

"Many elements -- notably selfish ambition -- may render the bipartisan venture impossible," the DPP lawmaker said.

Lien finished a distant third in the 2000 presidential race, while Soong, who missed the presidency by a slim margin, has indicated a keen interest in making a second attempt.

Not a done deal

TSU spokesman Hsiao Kwan-yu (蕭貫譽) said there is still a long way to go before the KMT and the PFP can resolve their differences over their presidential candidacy.

"The discussion will boil down to this -- whether they should have a Lien-Soong ticket or a Soong-Lien ticket," he said. "And in the end, they may decide to wage separate campaigns as in 2000."

Hsiao noted that the two opposition parties struck an accord to cooperate in the elections for county commissioners last year but failed to live up to the pact later.

Similarly, the two parties said they shared the need to join forces for the Kaohsiung mayoral race but the PFP remained uncommitted until just days before the vote.

"Their latest call for unity is nothing but a sustained effort to remove the DPP from power," the TSU official said.

He said that the TSU has no intention of competing for the presidency but will throw its support behind President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).

DPP lawmaker Trong Chai (蔡同榮) dismissed the Lien-Soong meeting as a scheme to divide booty yet to be won.

He said that by pooling their strength, the KMT aims to take control of the Presidential Office while the PFP is eyeing control of the Cabinet.

Change in strategy

Aware of his declining popularity, Soong has shifted his attention to the premiership after many PFP supporters switched their loyalty to Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) of the KMT, Chai said.