PFP legislators struggle to contain disappointment

PFP Chairman James Soong's (宋楚瑜) decision to be KMT Chair-man Lien Chan's (連戰) running mate has devastated the morale of his three-year-old party.

Though they have agreed to contain their discontent, several lawmakers who broke ranks with the KMT to follow Soong into his new party could not help deploring the volatile character of politics.

"I guess there are no eternal allies and enemies in the political realm," said PFP Legislator Chin Huei-chu (秦慧珠) after Lien and Soong inked a pact to challenge President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) next year.

Chin, who days ago proposed the parties hold open primaries to decide their presidential nominee, conceded she could not accept the idea when she first learnt of Soong's willingness to let Lien have the top spot on the ticket.

In a 90-minute address on Wednesday, Soong said he would "give up anything" in an attempt to promote opposition unity and asked fellow members not to allow self-seeking concerns to obstruct KMT-PFP cooperation.

"The PFP cannot make sending Soong to the Presidential Office its sole reason for existence," he said.

Chin said that there was nothing she and other colleagues could do to reverse the scenario if Soong himself has decided not to contend the presidency.

The two-term lawmaker quit the KMT in 2000 to follow Soong, who despite his high popularity, failed to win the KMT's nomination and so ran as an independent.

Sympathizers have blamed Soong's breakaway on former president and KMT chairman Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), who they said blocked a Lien-Soong pairing until it was too late.

Soong finished a close second to Chen despite allegations of financial misconduct. He formed the PFP shortly after the election.

PFP legislative leader Chung Shao-ho (鍾紹和), who was booted from the KMT in 1999, said he respected Soong's will, despite his own feelings on the matter.

Chung was one of the mem-bers of the now-defunct Taiwan Provincial Assembly who were known for their staunch support for Soong.

After hearing Soong's speech on Wednesday, he joined others in openly pressing their chairman to run for president, but to no avail.

"While regretful, I fully respect Soong's decision," Chung said. "As he has said it does not matter who runs for the presidency on behalf of the alliance so long as the PFP platforms can be realized."

Seeking to placate internal dissent, Lien and Soong have shunned conclusive rhetoric about their teaming, saying instead that national congresses of both parties next month will have the final say.

The technical delay is designed in part to calm criticisms about the lack of a transparent, democratic process in coming up with a joint ticket.

PFP Legislator Cheng Chin-ling (鄭金鈴) said she wished both parties would think twice during the period. A Soong loyalist, she said Lien appeared to her too soft a candidate to unseat Chen.

"I did not hear them say for sure which one will run for president or vice president," Cheng said. "In my view, the one with the higher popular support should head the ticket."