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DPP warns TSU not to push too hard on elections

In reaction to the Taiwan Solidarity Union's (TSU) demand that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) concede campaign space in the year-end elections for city and county heads, DPP officials said yesterday that the TSU's attitude will not help its election chances or bring about an atmosphere of cooperation.

The DPP is expected to announce its nominations for the year-end elections today. Since last week, the TSU has been negotiating with the DPP to prevent it from nominating candidates in at least one or two counties in order to give the TSU candidates in those counties a chance. TSU Chairman Shu Chin-chiang's (蘇進強) has suggested the DPP not run a candidate in Keelung City, Hsinchu City and Tainan City.

The TSU has said that if the DPP does not agree to the arrangement, the TSU will nominate former president Lee Teng-hui's (李登輝) daughter, Annie Lee (李安妮), to compete the position of Taipei County commissioner with the DPP's nominee Luo Wen-jia (羅文嘉).

The TSU's newly-appointed Secretary-General, Cheng Cheng-lung (程振隆), yesterday singled out for criticism DPP spokesman Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦), who has called the TSU's plan "a threat." The TSU official warned Cheng Wen-tsan that "people who do not understand inside information had better not disseminate rumors."

The DPP official responded that he did not mean to say anything to make the TSU feel bad or to spread rumors.

"Both the DPP and the TSU are focused on defending Taiwan's sovereignty and independence and are members of the pan-green camp," Cheng Wen-tsan said. "We believe it is the TSU's right to nominate its own candidates in the year-end elections, which the DPP will respect."

"However, when it comes to cooperation, a proper atmosphere and timing are indispensable," Cheng Wen-tsan said.

Cheng Wen-tsan said the DPP understood that the TSU wanted to negotiate an end to DPP-TSU competition, but that the DPP has its primary system, which it must respect.

"The TSU should not extend the battle lines without end," Cheng Wen-tsan added.

After DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and Shu met last week and both sides showed sincerity about cooperating, Cheng Wen-tsan said that he advised the TSU not to push too hard for cooperation on its terms.

"Patience will bear fruit. If you want to do the right thing you have to use the right way," Cheng Wen-tsan said. "I'm afraid that the TSU's plan would only be counterproductive ... The TSU may only infuriate DPP supporters and make them more united."

DPP secretary-general Lee Yi-yang (李逸洋) said yesterday that the key to a cross-party partnership with the TSU in Keelung City was cooperation at the grass roots, which could make or break the election.
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