The relationship between President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) is as troublesome as weeds, which can easily grow out of control with the slightest bit of fertilizing innuendo.
Opposition parties never miss the chance to sow discord between the DPP and the TSU and sometimes the DPP causes problems by spreading the occasional unhelpful idea that becomes a thorn in the side of the mutually beneficial Chen-Lee pact.
Tensions between the two parties last week once again revealed the subtle vulnerability that exist between them, and it is foreseeable that the Chen-Lee problem will prick periodically in the run-up to next year's presidential election.
On Saturday, Chen visited Lee's wife Tseng Wen-hui (曾文惠), who had been hospitalized for minor wounds on her lower lip caused by an accidental fall. Lee reportedly talked with Chen for an hour.
The visit -- which came one day after the TSU threatened to end their collaboration with the DPP -- is seen as a way to remove a divisive wedge in the pan-green camp.
TSU lawmaker were outraged when DPP legislators Yeh Yi-jin (
Chen -- knowing that the tiny TSU could sap a great deal of energy from the DPP -- had to demonstrate his concern in person to reinforce the sincerity of the party which had already stated it "believed in Lee's innocence."
"It is not guaranteed that the DPP will obtain more votes with Lee Teng-hui's support, but its strength will definitely be weakened without Lee's support," DPP lawmaker Tsai Huang-liang (蔡煌瑯) said.
As the two allies hold divergent positions in terms of Taiwan's future, the ruling party has been indecisive when it comes to whether it should secure the votes of pro-independence groups by staying close with Lee or intensify its "New Middle Way" principle to attract floating voters.
While most DPP leaders regard it a catch 22, others consider the two are not necessarily mutually exclusive. One top party official said that it goes without saying that Lee would help Chen to win pro-independence votes, but Lee's independence position won't definitely drive floating voters away because "Chen's `New Middle Way' will only be further highlighted in contrast to Lee's [more extreme] independence leanings."
However, Lee's pro-independence stance is not the only concern of the DPP, as a presidential official pointed out that Lee appears to become a major drain on Chen's resolve to reform. Like it or not, Lee, as a member of KMT's old guard, is widely believed to be accountable for most corruption, or "black-gold," allegations connecting with the party that Lee led for 12 years.
Whenever President Chen calls for anti-corruption reform, it is easy for the opposition parties to point to Lee as a major culprit. It again puts Chens in an awkward situation. "If Chen vows to get to the bottom of any scandal, such as the Lafayette deal, he runs the risk of straining his relations with Lee. But otherwise, the opposition parties will accuse the president of lacking the guts to reform," said the official.
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