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Elections 2006: Ma attributes Kaohsiung result to `unethical' DPP

A woman supporter of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Kaohsiung mayoral candidate Huang Chun-ying prays for her favorite yesterday. Huang was a very close but constant second to Democratic Progressive Party candidate Chen Chu throughout yesterday's vote count. PHOTO: CHANG CHUNG-YI, TAIPEI TIMES

After winning only one of the Taipei and Kaohsiung mayoral elections, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday expressed gratitude for the party's victory in Taipei, while blaming its defeat in Kaohsiung on the DPP's groundless accusations against Huang at the last moment.

"We congratulate Hau Lung-bin for his victory in Taipei, but feel very disappointed at our defeat in Kaohsiung. We wanted to win the city amid the DPP's corruption scandals, but things didn't go as we expected," Ma said yesterday at the KMT headquarters.

Condemning President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) remarks against Huang when casting his vote yesterday as "unethical," Ma urged Chen and the DPP to offer a public apology for their actions.

"We were astonished by what President Chen and the DPP did and we certainly condemn what they've done. They won the Kao-hsiung election with this vicious tactic, I don't think this is a good sign for Taiwan's democracy," Ma said.

"We lost the Kaohsiung election by a razor-thin margin, and the opponent won the election with a vicious strategy. Our efforts in Kaohsiung are not wasted."

Ma Ying-jeou, KMT chairman

As any lawsuits or complaints must be initiated by the candidate, Ma said the party would respect what Haung's camp decides to do while keeping in touch with his office in Kaohsiung.

Although the party lost the Kaohsiung mayoral election, Ma said he was satisfied with the party's general performance, as it retained control in Taipei City, and consolidated its support base in Kaohsiung, losing by only about 1,000 votes to the DPP.

"We lost the Kaohsiung election by a razor-thin margin, and the opponent won the election with a vicious strategy," Ma said. "Our efforts in Kaohsiung are not wasted. The pan-blue support base is obviously expanding and we believe that it's just a matter of time until we gain more support than the DPP in the city."

In response to Soong's announcement that he would quit politics, Ma said the party respected Soong's decision, but added that cooperation between the KMT and PFP would continue.

"We will continue to seek cooperation with the PFP in the legislature, elections and cross-strait relations," he added.

Showing up at Hau's campaign headquarters later to congratulate Hau, Ma, the incumbent Taipei mayor, disagreed that Hau's lower voter support than his was a sign of disapproval of his municipal performance.

"Hau's main opponent is a seasoned politician with a large amount of election experience. I only had one opponent, and Hau had to face several rivals, who all targeted their attacks on him. I think he won a big and meaningful victory this time," Ma said, while adding he expected Hau to continue his municipal policies.

When asked if any KMT officials will take political responsibility for the defeat in Kaohsiung, Ma said the party will review the election results, but declined to comment further.
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