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TSU denies support for Trong Chai's bid for legislative post

The Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) legislative caucus yesterday denied it would support Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Trong Chai (蔡同榮) in a bid for legislative speaker.

The rumor that the TSU would support Chai surfaced after he invited TSU legislators to dinner two days ago. But the party vehemently denied this meant support for his bid for speaker yesterday, saying dinner together did not necessarily constitute support.

Chai is one of a number of DPP hopefuls contending for the post next year after December's legislative elections. Other DPP candidates include caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) and veteran New Tide faction member Hong Chi-chang (洪奇昌).

"Dinner together does not mean we will support Chai for legislative speaker. We still haven't decided who to support, and we will not necessarily support a DPP candidate," TSU caucus deputy convener Cheng Chen-lung (程振隆) said.

"We will support someone who will make the country a better place," Cheng said.

Cheng said it would be best for Taiwan if the DPP needed to rely on the TSU to make up a majority in the legislature after December.

If the DPP gets more than half of the seats on its own, then it would only think about its factional interests, Cheng said.

"The public should let the TSU become a `preservative' for A-bian's [President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁)] administration. And we do not exclude cooperating with anyone," TSU caucus convener Chen Chien-ming (陳健銘) said.

Chai denied that he talked about the contest during the dinner but hinted that he had received support from some TSU legislators.

"When I had dinner with the TSU legislators yesterday, we did not talk about the contest for the speakership, but I share an ideological affinity with them, and I was not surprised that some TSU legislators said they would support me," Chai said.
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