The Taiwan Solidarity Union's (TSU) legislative caucus yesterday called on Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman-elect Ma Ying-jeou (
"Ma should not continue Lien's aggressive policy line and instead work for cooperation between the governing and opposition parties," said TSU caucus whip David Huang (
Huang said that Saturday's election only indicates that the KMT's localization forces are weakening and that he is worried that Ma will eventually lead the KMT to side with China.
TSU Chairman Shu Chin-chiang (
"When it comes to future interaction with the KMT, there is only one principle," Shu told reporters in the US. "That is, we will deal with the cooperation issue in accordance to its own merit."
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip Lai Ching-te (
"No matter who we are dealing with, we will exercise our utmost sincerity," he said.
Since pan-blue supporters and the public have pinned high hopes on the KMT chairmanship election, Lai said that he hopes to see a new and benign political climate in the future.
Lai also said that he does not foresee a split within the KMT, nor does his party have any desire to divide its arch political rival.
While many have considered the KMT chairmanship election as a prelude to the 2008 presidential election, Lai said that there are several challenges Ma has to overcome before he can run for the nation's top post.
They include the KMT's complicated regional fictions, self-interested KMT members who work in the public sector, the legacy of vote-buying, party assets, ethnic problems and policy line.
DPP Legislator Lee Chun-yee (
"The end of the KMT chairmanship election is the beginning of trouble for the new chairman," he said. "The election reflects one very serious problem of the KMT, and that is its ethnic makeup."
As KMT members voted overwhelming for Ma, who is of Mainland descent, over Taiwanese native Wang, Lee said that it sends a clear message.
"The KMT's ethnic problems are graver than we thought," he said "It will be a big challenge for Ma to integrate the party's `deep blue' and `light blue' forces."
Lee also cautioned the DPP to wait for the best time to seek cooperation with Wang in assisting the DPP in the legislature so Ma will have no excuse to weaken the KMT's localization forces led by Wang.
People First Party caucus whip Hsu Yao-chang (
"As long as it is to the advantage of the people, we will not oppose government bills for the sake of opposition," he said.
Hsu also dismissed the speculation that the KMT would split after the election, saying that both Ma and Wang can still work together for their party if Ma is willing to keep a low profile and seeks Wang's assistance in running the party.
Yen Chin-piao (
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