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Chen says he's essential for Ma's political future

President Chen Shui-bian speaks at the opening ceremony for the Pinchiang Market in Taipei City yesterday as Mayor Ma Ying-jeou looks on. Chen used the event to suggest that a vote for him in the March presidential election would boost Ma's chances of becoming president in 2008. PHOTO: WANG MIN-WEI, TAIPEI TIMES

Looking to sow dissent within the pan-blue camp, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said yesterday his winning the March presidential election would help Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) become president in 2008.

"If I win the 2004 presidential election, then Mayor Ma has the opportunity to get the presidency in 2008," Chen said in an address at the opening ceremony of Taipei City's Pinchiang Market.

Chen's remark won applause from hundreds of Ma supporters at the ceremony.

To honor the former city government's contribution to the market, Ma's administration invited Chen, who was Taipei mayor from 1994 to 1998, to attend the ceremony.

The president said the market project was an important policy during his mayoral term and touched on his relationship with Ma.

"I have given much thought to the presidential election," Chen said. "I remember that had not Ma defeated me in the 1998 mayoral election, I would not have had the opportunity to run in the 2000 presidential election.

"It was Ma, who should be called my `best campaigner,' who allowed me to become the president now," Chen said. "I am actually keeping the post for Ma.

"Give me the opportunity to win re-election in 2004, and Ma will get his opportunity in 2008," Chen said.

"To support A-bian is the same as supporting Ma," he said.

Though Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) have formed a joint ticket for next year's election, many senior members of the KMT believe that Ma, regarded as the party's most brilliant star, is a better choice than Soong as Lien's running mate.

Thousands of grassroots Ma supporters have advocated spoiling a million ballots in the March election to show their support for the Taipei mayor.

Chen was looking to foment divisions within the KMT. Should the Lien-Soong ticket win in March, Soong is expected to launch a bid for the presidency in 2008.

Ma said after the ceremony yesterday that, "The president's logic is totally unreasonable."

As the host of the ceremony, Ma said he was surprised that Chen, as a guest, had turned the celebration for local infrastructure into a personal campaign event.

"People of the country do not have four more years to be wasted," Ma said. "If we [blue-camp members] do not win next year, we will certainly not have any opportunity to win in 2008."

After Chen left the ceremony, Lien inspected the market and vowed to be Ma's strongest supporter in the future if he wins the presidential election.
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