Confirming rumors of simmering discontent within the People First Party (PFP), party Legislator Lee Chin-hua (
"My individual departure is of no importance. However, the fact that supporters are departing is of the utmost importance. I hope that the PFP has the ability to engage in introspection," said Lee after announcing that he is leaving the party yesterday morning.
Lee is the first to formally announce his departure after several PFP legislators publicly called on the party to reconsider its policies in the wake of its dismal performance in last Saturday's National Assembly elections.
PHOTO: LIN CHENG-KUN, TAIPEI TIMES
The PFP secured only 18 seats of the 300 that were up for grabs on Saturday, falling far short of its goal of claiming 40 seats.
Given the record low voting turnout of 23 percent, the PFP has since said that it does not consider the election to be a reflection of the people's true support for the party.
However, a number of PFP legislators, including Lee, have blamed the party's lackluster election performance on its recent friendly overtures to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Lee said that he had spent all night lying awake and thinking about his decision, and concluded that the PFP's insistence on its current path of cooperation with the DPP left him no choice but to leave.
"I am bidding the PFP farewell, but I wish it well. The party advocates cooperation between the DPP and PFP, between the pan-green and pan-blue camps, and between Bian [President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁)] and [PFP Chairman James] Soong (宋楚瑜). I support cooperation between the KMT and PFP, as well as pan-blue unity -- how can you say that there is no conflict?" Lee told a news conference yesterday.
Lee emphasized that he harbored no animosity toward Soong, and said he had spoken to Soong before announcing his decision.
"I talked on the phone with the chairman [Soong] for a long time. Soong tried to convince me not to leave. I have always supported Chairman Soong, and even at this time I respect him as much as ever," Lee said.
When asked whether his sister and fellow PFP Legislator Lee Chin-an (
During a news conference held by the PFP legislative caucus following Lee Chin-hua's announcement, Lee Chin-an said that she would not leave the PFP.
The PFP's legislative caucus said that it wished Lee Chin-hua well and did not harbor any hard feelings toward him.
His resignation from the party sparked speculation about his next ideological home.
Lee Chin-hua said that he plans to take some time to carefully consider which direction he should take.
In response to a question on whether he has been in contact with the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), of which he is a former member,Lee Chin-hua said no.
The KMT said that it has no plans to approach Lee Chin-hua.
KMT spokeswoman Cheng Li-wen (
Although the KMT welcomes returning former members with open arms, the party will not contact him first, Cheng said.
Kenting National Park service technician Yang Jien-fon (楊政峰) won a silver award in World Grand Prix Photography Awards Spring Season for his photograph of two male rat snakes intertwined in combat. Yang’s colleagues at Kenting National Park said he is a master of nature photography who has been held back by his job in civil service. The awards accept entries in all four seasons across six categories: architectural and urban photography, black-and-white and fine art photography, commercial and fashion photography, documentary and people photography, nature and experimental photography, and mobile photography. Awards are ranked according to scores and divided into platinum, gold and
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus yesterday said it opposes the introduction of migrant workers from India until a mechanism is in place to prevent workers from absconding. Minister of Labor Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) on Thursday told the Legislative Yuan that the first group of migrant workers from India could be introduced as early as this year, as part of a government program. The caucus’ opposition to the policy is based on the assessment that “the risk is too high,” KMT caucus secretary-general Lin Pei-hsiang (林沛祥) said. Taiwan has a serious and long-standing problem of migrant workers absconding from their contracts, indicating that
TRADE-OFF: Beijing seeks to trade a bowl of tempura for a Chinese delicacy, an official said, while another said its promises were attempts to interfere in the polls The government must carefully consider the national security implications of building a bridge connecting Kinmen County and Xiamen, China, the Public Construction Commission (PCC) said yesterday. PCC Commissioner Derek Chen (陳金德), who is also a minister without portfolio, made the remarks in a meeting of the legislature’s Transportation Committee, after Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Hsu Fu-kuei (徐富癸) asked about China’s proposal of new infrastructure projects to further connect Kinmen and Lienchiang (Matsu) counties with Xiamen. China unveiled the bridge plan, along with nine other policies for Taiwan, on Sunday, the last day of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun’s (鄭麗文) visit
RSS