People First Party (PFP) Legislator Hsieh Kuo-liang (
"My father hoped that I would join the KMT and KMT Central Standing Committee member Lien Sheng-wen (連勝文) has been inviting me for a while. That's why I have decided to do so," Hsieh said in a press release announcing his decision.
Hsieh said that his decision to relinquish his PFP membership had nothing to do with any KMT-PFP merger nor did it mean he hated the PFP.
However, his father, Hsieh Hsiu-ping (
KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (
"We never encourage such moves or ask them to join the party. We are totally passive on the matter. If they apply to join the party, we cannot say no," Ma said.
Secretary-general of the KMT legislative caucus, Pan Wei-kang (潘維剛) said that while the KMT had not actively invited Hsieh to join the party, it would not refuse any potential new members, either.
"We respect everybody's free will," Pan said.
Hsieh represented the PFP in Keelung.
Liu Wen-hsiung (劉文雄), another PFP legislator representing the Keelung constituency, said Hsieh's departure would not impact on the PFP's campaign for legislative seats in Keelung.
"We have our faithful followers and supporters here in Keelung. We wish Hsieh success with the KMT, but the PFP will not miss him in [next year's legislative election]," Liu said.
PFP caucus whip Lu Hsieh-chang (呂學樟), however, said it was not the best time for Hsieh to leave.
"[Hsieh] is a good man and was an important member of the PFP. It is our loss now he has decided to leave, but we can only wish him well for the future, now that he has decided to go," Lu said.
Additional reporting by Mo Yan-chih
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