The Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) and the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday denied that they had been in contact before Tuesday's vote on the recall of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).
The denials came in response to a report published yesterday by the Chinese-language United Daily News that said the TSU -- long regarded as a staunch ally of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) -- might turn toward the KMT.
The report went on to say that TSU Legislator Lai Shin-yuan (
During the meeting, Lai passed on a message from former president Lee Teng-hui (
TSU Secretary-General Lo Chih-ming (
Lo said that he had questioned Lai and Chang and both had denied meeting Ma.
"The TSU has never established any communication channels with Ma," Lo said. "And I do not think Lai and Chang are capable of influencing Ma's political stance and shifting him to a more moderate political line. I suspect it was the DPP that spread the rumor to hurt the TSU as punishment for our invalid votes on the recall bid."
Lai also dismissed the report yesterday, saying it was "pure fiction and nonsense." She called on the rumormongers to cease.
"I think this rumor is an insult to former president Lee," Lai said.
Other TSU legislators repeated Lo's claim that the report was a result of the DPP spreading rumors.
DPP caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (
"We still have confidence in the TSU," Ker said.
A report published yesterday by the China Times said the close relationship between Lee and the president had changed and that the TSU would support the formation of a Cabinet by Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
Wang said the report was just speculation.
TSU Legislator Liao Pen-yen (
"It's true we didn't give an endorsement of President Chen's integrity and we really hope that the president can do better. We worry that the pro-localization movement might lose the 2008 presidential election because its integrity is in doubt," he said.
Asked why the TSU didn't cast negative votes during the recall vote, given that its members also doubted the government's integrity, Liao said it was because the pan-blue legislators had proposed the recall motion to achieve their own political ends.
The KMT yesterday also dismissed the report.
In response to the rumors that Lee would invite Wang to form a new Cabinet, Ma yesterday dismissed such a possibility, saying the issue of the constitutional system must be dealt with before the KMT would be willing to discuss any personnel issues with the government.
Additional reporting by Mo Yan-chih
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