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NPSU remains firm in the face of DPP appeal for election

While the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus tried to solicit the support of the Non-Partisan Solidarity Union (NPSU) yesterday for the legislative speaker election, the NPSU said remained firmly behind incumbent Wang Jin-pyng (王金平).

DPP caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) pleaded with the NPSU not to give its full support to Wang since the caucus was neither "blue" nor "green."

"After the election the DPP will promote cross-party negotiation and reconciliation, and if the NPSU gives all its support to the KMT, it may find itself sold off by the KMT afterwards," Ker said.

"So the NPSU does not need to stake all its chips in one throw, and it should consider Wang and Ker equally," Ker said.

He said the NPSU could play a pivotal role at a time when negotiation and reconciliation were called for. In response to Wang's claim that he has already secured many NPSU votes, Ker said admitted that the NPSU was inclined to support Wang, but he would do his best to secure its support in the limited time left.

"I am feeling calm and I am not beset with anxiety like Wang," Ker said.

He said that he wanted to be speaker in order to seek major changes in the legislature and help create an era for cross-party negotiation and political stability.

"Wang's running is a continuation of the old era and old figures, and he is running for his personal interests. But the Legislative Yuan has not changed in the past 55 years, and we need a new culture instead of continuous conflicts," Ker said.

There will be at least six lawmakers in the NPSU caucus and caucus whip Chen Chin-ting (陳進丁) said the group had reached a consensus to support Wang.

"The DPP just decided on its candidate recently, and by asking the NPSU not to support Wang, it created a difficult situation," he said.

Chen said the caucus would discuss whom to support for deputy speaker this evening.
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