A meeting between the heads of the pan-blue alliance of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the People First Party (PFP) should be held as soon as possible, KMT spokesman Chang Jung-kung (張榮恭) said yesterday.
However, Chang added that the date for such a meeting has not yet been determined, pointing out that the date depends on the schedule of PFP Chairman James Soong (
Chang said that it is a good thing for both party leaders to meet, adding that "the sooner the better."
Major topics expected to be discussed at such a meeting are a merger of the KMT and its two splinter parties -- the PFP and the New Party, the upcoming speaker and vice speaker elections in the Legislative Yuan, a bill concerning the KMT's assets, the confirmation of 29 nominees for the Control Yuan, and cross-strait relations.
The two leaders are also expected to discuss how to respond to a scheduled ruling Dec. 30 by the Taiwan High Court on a lawsuit they filed to try to have the March 20 presidential election nullified for alleged widespread fraud.
Following the Dec. 11 legislative elections in which the pan-blue alliance surprisingly maintained its majority in the 225-seat Legislative Yuan, supporters of the alliance have called for a quick merger to solidify the opposition force.
However, Soong said right after the elections that the KMT had shut the door on a merger. Although he didn't elaborate, reports said that he and Lien had not been on speaking terms since mid-November because of bickering over the allocation of a more than NT$100 million (US$3.1 million) subsidy for the Lien-Soong ticket in the March 20 presidential election.
Soong was also reportedly dissatisfied that the KMT vote-allocation strategy excluded the PFP legislative candidates in the Dec. 11 elections.
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