Southern Taiwan is usually viewed as the redoubt of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) whenever it confronts the pan-blue camp in national elections. But the political map could change for upcoming National Assembly elections in May and mayoral and county commissioner elections in December, because many pan-green supporters' are unhappy with the recent cooperation between the DPP and the People First Party (PFP), according to Southern Taiwan Society chairman Tseng Kuei-hai (
"Many people told me that they will not vote for the DPP any longer," Tseng said yesterday. "Many of them complained that after their unqualified support to President Chen Shui-bian (
Most of the contents of the 10-point consensus that Chen signed with PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) were not new. But many southern Taiwanese -- the people that former president Lee praised as being most steadfast in their opposition to China -- nonetheless felt let down by Chen, whom they have called a "son of Taiwan" for the past 10 years.
"The fact that people had such a strong reaction to the Chen-Soong meeting was not because they opposed the idea of political cooperation or political reconciliation, but because the 10-point consensus produced after that meeting totally strayed from the long-term goals and dreams that we have pursued," Tseng said.
Tseng pointed out that changing political platforms and principles is a process that must proceed slowly to retain the support of the public.
"However, President Chen's change in stance on the country's orientation and future was abrupt and clueless," Tseng said. "We think it's quite dangerous for the president to alter what he promises to voters so easily."
Tseng also said that many people reacted even more strongly to the result of Chen-Soong meeting than the senior advisers who resigned in protest. Some believe that the president just nullified their efforts to promote localization in one stroke, and have started to doubt the DPP's commitment to the people.
"I think the elections of the National Assembly Representatives in May and the elections of the County Commissioners and City Mayors in December will show a backlash from people living in southern Taiwan against the Chen-Soong meeting," Tseng said.
Chao Wen-nan (
However, Chao was quite low-key about the results of the Chen-Soong meeting, saying only that the DPP will try its best to communicate with supporters.
Lin Ya-ly (
"Some Kaohsiung people think that [Chen Shui-bian] doesn't have the pressure of winning another presidential term, and therefore Chen chose to work with Soong so that he could do something he really wanted to do," Lin said.
In fact, Kaohsiung people were perhaps braced for DPP cooperation with the DPP, since Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) worked with PFP city councilors when he served as Kaohsiung Mayor and achieved impressive results.
Although the Chen-Soong meeting drew much opposition from the pan-green camp, some still think it might turn over a new leaf in accelerating the country's development.
"Although the pending elections could be events to observe the current of public opinion, I think how many bills in the Legislative Yuan will be passed is also an indicator of the success of this so-called political cooperation," said Hsu Yung-ming (
"I predict the arms sales bill will be a litmus test for the outcome of the Chen-Soong meeting," Hsu said.
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