The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday denied rumors that the party is working to "clean house" by kicking out pro-localization members and others who have been seen frequently interacting with the pan-green camp.
Saying that the party had no such intention, KMT spokeswoman Kuo Su-chun (郭素春) yesterday dismissed the rumors as "another attempt by people who wish to make use of all their time to drive wedges among party members."
Kuo said that "Party Chairman Lien Chan (
"Chairman Lien is confident in all the party's members and legislators," Kuo said, saying that "the party right now has no intention of cleaning house, but only of staying united" in order to perform well in the year-end legislative elections.
The talk of "cleaning house" has come in the midst of mounting calls from members of the party's pro-localization faction who, in the wake of Lien's failure to win the presidential election, have urged the party to speed up reforms. The pro-localization faction has also expressed concern about Lien's proposal to merge the KMT with the People First Party.
While declining to name individuals, Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) Legislator Lo Chih-ming (
Having been implicated in such remarks, pro-localization KMT members such as Legislators Chen Hung-chang (
"The idea has never crossed my mind," Hsu said.
Chang said that he had been asked by the TSU several times if he were willing to switch party membership.
"My leaving the KMT is very unlikely ? I'd rather be considered a black sheep within the KMT," Chang said.
Chang's remarks meshed with those of TSU caucus whip Chen Chien-ming (
Saying that he is sure that no one within the party wants to defect, Legislative Speaker and KMT Vice Chairman Wang Jin-pyng (
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