Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
Hsiao plans to launch the new party next Friday with the aim of winning legislator-at-large seats. The party is expected to be composed of farmers' associations.
"Our goal for the party is to garner at least 5 percent of the vote so that we can secure three legislator-at-large seats," Hsiao said.
PHOTO: WANG YI-SUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Observers have speculated that Wang, who last Friday declined an offer to serve as KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou's (
Wang denied this while acknowledging that he is "on good terms with farmers around the country."
"I had no idea that [the farmers' associations] were organizing a new party," Wang said when approached for comment yesterday.
KMT Legislator Pai Tien-chih (
Hsiao dismissed the rumors about Wang, saying that the party was being established to provide a voice for disadvantaged farmers and that the legislative speaker had played no part in the process.
Wang and Hsiao both belong to the KMT's White faction, one of the party's two major factions in Kaohsiung County.
Ma yesterday dismissed speculation over Wang's connection with the new party as "groundless," but added that the KMT would enhance its communication with farmers.
TPFA says the farmers' associations have 1.8 million members.
Additional reporting by Mo Yan-chih
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