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.
A preclearance service to facilitate entry for people traveling to select airports in Japan would be available from Thursday next week to Feb. 25 at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Taoyuan International Airport Corp (TIAC) said on Tuesday. The service was first made available to Taiwanese travelers throughout the winter vacation of 2024 and during the Lunar New Year holiday. In addition to flights to the Japanese cities of Hakodate, Asahikawa, Akita, Sendai, Niigata, Okayama, Takamatsu, Kumamoto and Kagoshima, the service would be available to travelers to Kobe and Oita. The service can be accessed by passengers of 15 flight routes operated by
MORE FALL: An investigation into one of Xi’s key cronies, part of a broader ‘anti-corruption’ drive, indicates that he might have a deep distrust in the military, an expert said China’s latest military purge underscores systemic risks in its shift from collective leadership to sole rule under Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), and could disrupt its chain of command and military capabilities, a national security official said yesterday. If decisionmaking within the Chinese Communist Party has become “irrational” under one-man rule, the Taiwan Strait and the regional situation must be approached with extreme caution, given unforeseen risks, they added. The anonymous official made the remarks as China’s Central Military Commission Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia (張又俠) and Joint Staff Department Chief of Staff Liu Zhenli (劉振立) were reportedly being investigated for suspected “serious
ENHANCING EFFICIENCY: The apron can accommodate 16 airplanes overnight at Taoyuan airport while work on the third runway continues, the transport minister said A new temporary overnight parking apron at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport is to start operating on Friday next week to boost operational efficiency while the third runway is being constructed, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The apron — one of the crucial projects in the construction of the third runway — can accommodate 16 aircraft overnight at the nation’s largest international airport, Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) told reporters while inspecting the new facility yesterday morning. Aside from providing the airport operator with greater flexibility in aircraft parking during the third runway construction,
American climber Alex Honnold is to attempt a free climb of Taipei 101 today at 9am, with traffic closures around the skyscraper. To accommodate the climb attempt and filming, the Taipei Department of Transportation said traffic controls would be enforced around the Taipei 101 area. If weather conditions delay the climb, the restrictions would be pushed back to tomorrow. Traffic controls would be in place today from 7am to 11am around the Taipei 101 area, the department said. Songzhi Road would be fully closed in both directions between Songlian Road and Xinyi Road Sec 5, it said, adding that bidirectional traffic controls would
RSS