In an effort to facilitate cooperation with the People First Party (PFP), the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) decided yesterday to take disciplinary action against any members that do not vote for Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
The PFP also announced yesterday that party Chairman James Soong (
"The legislative speaker and deputy legislative speaker elections will affect the future of cooperation between the KMT and the PFP in the legislature; this mission [KMT-PFP cooperation] must be accomplished.
"To demonstrate [the KMT's] dedication to KMT-PFP cooperation and to fulfill the hopes of pan-blue supporters, I highly recommend that disciplinary measures be taken," KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
At the meeting yesterday, after formally deciding to endorse Wang in his reelection run for speaker, the KMT decided that all party legislators that do not vote for Wang and Chung on Feb. 1 will face disciplinary measures.
The outcome of yesterday's meeting was highly anticipated, given recent rumors that the PFP is unhappy with the KMT's lukewarm reception of its deputy speaker candidate, Chung.
On Thursday, local media reports said that the PFP gave the KMT an ultimatum, saying that unless the KMT agreed to punish legislators that do not toe the party's line on Feb. 1, the PFP will allow its legislators free rein in the vote for legislative speaker.
During a press conference held after the meeting, KMT spokesperson Chang Jung-kung (
At the press conference, Chang said that Deputy Speaker Chiang Pin-kun (
Before the PFP announced that it would nominate its own candidate for deputy speaker, the KMT had said it would support a Wang-Chiang ticket again.
In response, PFP Deputy Secretary-General Chin Chin-shen (
"All the people can see for themselves the meaning of this decision," PFP spokesperson Hsieh Kung-ping (
As soon as the decision was announced yesterday morning, the PFP also sent the media details about Soong's return this morning.
Originally, the PFP had said that Soong might not return until tomorrow.
When questioned about the abrupt change in plans, Hsieh would only say that Soong was coming back to campaign for the Wang-Chung ticket.
At least one KMT legislator yesterday, however, said that he was unhappy with the party's decision.
"The party needs to explain the steps in its decision to change its support from Chiang Pin-kun to Chung. Otherwise, they'll lose even my vote," said KMT Legislator and Central Standing Committee member Lee Chia-chin (
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