A remark by President Chen Shui-bian (
Chen said many of those attending the Forum of Legislative Presidents of Central America have a strong desire and the opportunity to become president of their respective countries, including Wang.
Chen said that when he met some forum participants and Wang at the Presidential Office on Monday, they discussed whether it would take a legislative speaker or the mayor of a capital city longer to become president.
PHOTO: CNA
"I said the answer is quite clear," Chen said. "In Taiwan, the distance from the Legislative Yuan to the Presidential Office is less than that from Taipei City Hall."
Chen wished the forum participants good luck and said he hoped their dreams would come true.
Wang had a big smile on his face as he listened to Chen.
Dogged by reporters after Chen left the forum at the Grand Hotel, Wang said the president was just being polite even though distance between the Legislative Yuan and the Presidential Office was shorter than between Taipei City Hall and the Presidential Office.
He also said Chen had made a similar remark during Monday's Presidential Office visit.
Wang reminded reporters that he never said that he wanted to run for president .
"I'll fully support former [KMT] chairman Ma [Ying-jeou (
When asked if Chen's comments were based on the president's belief that Ma would lose his candidacy because of his legal problems, Wang said he did not know.
"I only know I'll make an effort to get people to accept the Ma-Siew [former premier Vincent Siew (蕭萬長)] ticket and support it. A change of power in the next election corresponds to the needs of the country and would be conducive to democratic development," Wang said.
Ma is on trial for misusing his special mayoral allowance fund.
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