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Lu opts out of debate for presidential contenders

Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) has decided to skip a TV debate organized by a pro-independence group on Saturday, the organizer said yesterday.

Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Yu Shyi-kun and former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) have agreed to attend and signed a letter of consent, Taiwan Society secretary-general Chet Yang (楊文嘉) said.

SETTV and Radio Taiwan International will broadcast the three-hour debate live. The event will take place from 2pm to 5pm at the Liberty Times building in Neihu.

Yang yesterday declined to reveal the reason behind Lu's absence and said that they respected Lu's decision. Lu's office yesterday refused to comment.

Lu, who has an acrimonious relationship with the organization, made it clear in last week's Central Standing Committee that if there is going to be any public debate, it should be held by the party.

Uncertainty remains as to where the association will hold the second debate on March 31, as the four presidential contenders agreed yesterday that except for Saturday's debate, they would not attend any debate held by organizations except their own party.

Regarding Su's concern that the debate may disrupt party unity, Yang called on the four contenders to face the debate with courage and make their positions clearly known.

They should also understand that winning the public's faith in the party outweighs creating a false impression of unity, he said.

Yang, however, said that he was not completely against negotiations among the four aspirants but the mediations must be conducted based on scientific data.

"We are against closed negotiations where interests are exchanged and positions are appropriated," he said. "We are not against negotiations that are supported by scientific numbers and whose process is democratic."
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