KMT's 2004 comments mruffle PFP

Recent remarks made by KMT leaders with regard to ticket choice for the 2004 presidential election and the possibility of a merger between the KMT and the PFP have stirred an uproar among some PFP hard-liners, who accuse the KMT of acting highhandedly.

Following last month's joint announcement by KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) to unite forces and to field a joint ticket for the March 2004 presidential race, KMT Secretary-General Lin Fong-cheng (林豐正) openly indicated the party's intentions this Tuesday, saying the party would prefer a Lien-Soong ticket.

He said that if the PFP and the public agree with the KMT's idea to field Lien as the presidential candidate and Soong as Lien's running mate with the final selection of the candidates being made in March, then the KMT could move its party congress from August to April to approve the nomination.

KMT Legislator Apollo Chen (陳學聖) said that Lien is more qualified than Soong to head the pan-blue camp's 2004 presidential ticket.

"Because of Lien's comprehensive administrative experience, policy direction and seniority, we think Lien is more suitable to head the ticket than Soong," Chen said.

Lien, 67, is six years Soong's senior. Neither Lien nor Soong has so far made a public statement about seeking the presidency.

Incoming PFP legislative leader Chiu Yi (邱毅) disagreed with Lin's remarks and said that the PFP would not cooperate with the KMT if KMT officials were intent on coercing the PFP into a position Soong's party was unwilling to go along with.

Noting the recognition Soong received for his run in the 2000 presidential election, Chiu said that voters backed Soong because they recognized Soong's talents and believed Soong was the individual capable of carrying out the duties demanded by the post.

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) won the 2000 presidential election with 39 percent of the vote. Soong, who ran as an independent, obtained 36 percent while Lien, the KMT's candidate, came in distant third with 23 percent of the vote

"The KMT keeps talking about a Lien-Soong ticket with Soong as the vice president. Will Soong hold any real authority as deputy [if they were to be elected]?" Chiu asked.

"If Soong has to play second fiddle and doesn't have any real power, will people still vote for him?" he asked.

PFP Legislator Chin Huei-chu (秦慧珠) said that while a Lien-Soong ticket could be one of the choices on the table for consideration, it ought not be the only choice nor the only outcome from the pan-blue camp for the 2004 election.

In addition to the thorny issue of who will head the joint ticket and who will serve as the running mate, Lien triggered another uproar when he said on Friday that he would not rule out the possibility of a merger between the KMT and the PFP.

"A merger of political parties with shared ideologies and values is a likely development," Lien said when asked to comment on the issue at the KMT's year-end press conference. Lien added that he looks forward to seeing Taiwan move toward two-party politics.

Criticizing the KMT's merger talk, Chiu made an analogy saying that "it is as if the KMT is trying to coerce the PFP into marriage."

Chiu said that the KMT should take care of its own issues first such as shedding its "black gold" image once and for all before talking about a merger with the PFP.