The alliance between the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the People First Party (PFP), now a year old, is united more in what they are against than what they are for.
While unequivocal in criticizing President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), the two parties have failed to coordinate their actions and develop an internal consensus on key policies.
"The alliance still needs to work on coordination and rapport within its campaign team," said Chiu Hei-yuan (
PHOTO: CNA
After the Lunar New Year, Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
However, Ma's enthusiasm for the debates was not appreciated by the pan-blue camp's campaign team, which appeared bewildered about the whole idea.
When KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
PHOTO: CNA
When approached by the media for comments on whether he supported Ma's televised debate proposal, KMT vice chairman and legislative speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
Not only did Lien and Wang's remarks suggest that Ma had acted on his own in proposing the debates, the discord demonstrated the lack of consensus and communication among the leaders of the pan-blue camp's campaign team.
The confusion continued in discussions over the topics of debate that Ma had proposed.
When Ma visited the Public Television Service (PTS) to ask it to host the debates, Ma wanted a debate only the legality of the referendum, a topic that Chen's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was only too happy to debate.
However, several pan-blue members such as alliance campaign spokesman Pang Chien-kuo (
"The alliance wants to debate economic and welfare issues first because the referendum is an issue which is mainly being held for the sake of Chen's election campaign," Pang said at a press conference held by the alliance.
Pang also suggested that a survey be held to decide what topics should be addressed in the debates.
"With the poor coordination and discrepancies in opinions demonstrated by the alliance, sometimes it does lead one to wonder how efficient and competent would it be if it won power," said Chin Heng-wei (金恆煒), a political commentator and editor in chief of Contemporary Monthly magazine.
The lack of coordination within the pan-blue camp was even more clearly demonstrated in the latest discussion about remarks made by deputy director of the Center for Disease Control Shih Wen-yi (施文儀).
With deadly avian flu spreading across Asia, Shih said to the press last week that "coffins should be prepared" in case the disease mutates into a form that can be transmitted between people.
Lien immediately slammed Shih, saying the remarks demonstrated the DPP administration's incompetence and inability to lead, govern and solve problems.
Later that day, Ma backed Shih, saying that Shih's remark "was not a bad thing" because it would keep people alert to the dangers of the disease.
Incidents of this kind demonstrate the main characteristics of the alliance's campaign team: big but slow.
Wang has said that the two parties were being far more effective in this campaign than for the 2002 legislative elections, but this meant more work in accommodating a greater number of diverse views.
The well-established KMT, with its formidable financial resources, has taken the lead in organizing the campaign.
The grassroots mobilization, which the KMT regards as one of its strongest points, is led by KMT Secretary-General Lin Fong-cheng (林豐正), while the KMT's Culture and Publicity Committee is responsible for propaganda work.
In addition to the Cultural and Publicity Committee, independent legislator Sisy Chen (
Although the higher echelons of the alliance appreciate and rely on Sisy Chen's contribution to the alliance's propaganda fight against the DPP, given that she holds no official title or position within the alliance, some alliance members grumble that she has too much influence and yet is outside the alliance's publicity mechanism.
Sisy Chen has said in response that she does not want "to get too involved" with either the KMT or the PFP.
With just 40 days to go before the election, the alliance needs to find the oil that will make its mighty campaign machine ope-rate smoothly.
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