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Luo undecided over Da-an constituency election bid

Former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Luo Wen-jia (羅文嘉) yesterday abandoned his bid for a legislator-at-large seat, but fell short of promising to stand in the district legislative elections.

Luo, who originally revealed on his Web log that he was interested in running for the legislature in Taipei's Da-an District (大安) constituency, said that he needed time to discuss the issue with his wife, who is vehemently opposed to a legislative bid.

The constituency has traditionally been a stronghold of the pan-blue alliance led by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT).

Luo said this was the first time his wife felt so strongly that he should not run in an election.

Luo said he had stuck by the DPP over the years because he never lost hope in the party and believes that the DPP is better than the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT).

Luo's wife, Liu Chao-yi (劉昭儀), called a TV talk show last night and said that she was against her husband running in the election because politicians were running a smear campaign against him.

Liu said that she and her husband "might as well live separate lives" if Luo decides to run.

She dismissed speculation that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) hand-picked her husband to run in the tough constituency. She also rejected claims that she and Luo were pretending to be at odds in order to manipulate public opinion.

Luo, considered a maverick within the party for his outspokeness, failed to secure a nomination for the legislative elections mainly because of a grass-roots campaign against him and 10 other incumbent or former DPP legislators.

The campaign, led by a radio show, branded them the "11 bandits" and called for voters to boycott them during the legislative primaries earlier this year. It also branded them "traitors to Taiwan" for criticizing DPP policies.

Chen, who invited Luo to replace Kao Chia-yu (高嘉瑜) -- a former aide of Luo's -- in the Da-an constituency, yesterday said that Luo should "listen to everybody" when asked by reporters whether he should listen to the president or his wife.

Chen made the remarks as he left a Central Executive Committee meeting, which he chaired in his capacity as party chairman.

DPP legislative caucus whip Wang Tuoh (王拓) said yesterday that the DPP owes Luo an apology.

"I believe that an apology to Luo is necessary," Wang said when approached for comment yesterday morning.

Wang said the president's invitation to Luo should be regarded as a confirmation of Luo's qualifications. He said it was appropriate compensation for what the party had put Luo through.

"I think the DPP should also apologize to the others who were labeled `bandits,'" Wang said.

Meanwhile, the Central Executive Committee yesterday agreed that Kao could withdraw from the election. The committee also approved the withdrawals of two other legislative candidates, Chen Yu-jen (陳玉真) and Yang Tsu-shuan (楊子萱), and agreed to let the Central Standing Committee select replacements.

The committee also agreed to nominate former DPP legislator Chiu Chuang-liang (邱創良) to stand for election in Taoyuan County's sixth constituency.

In addition, it removed four nominees from four constituencies to pave the way for cooperation with the Taiwan Solidarity Union.

Additional reporting by Jimmy Chuang
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