KMT unveils list of candidates

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) unveiled its legislator-at-large candidate list yesterday, with Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) topping the list and the People First Party (PFP) grabbing four of the 34 seats.

Former dean of Chi Mei Medical Center Steve Chan (詹啟賢), now a top aide to KMT presidential Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), did not appear on the list, while incumbent legislators accounted for about 90 percent of the 18 seats in the "safe zone," meaning that their election is likely.

Two of the four PFP legislators who won the KMT nomination were Chang Hsien-yao (張顯耀) and Cheng Chin-ling (鄭金玲), an anonymous source said.

Announcing the list following a four-hour meeting, KMT Secretary-General Wu Den-yi (吳敦義) said the decision-making committee did not include Chan in the list because of his growing responsibilities as Ma's campaign aide.

"As the presidential election approaches, Chan's campaigning duties will only grow, especially in southern Taiwan, where he is very influential," Wu said at KMT headquarters.

Wu acknowledged the many difficulties in negotiating the list engendered by the single-member district, two-vote system and called on party members and supporters to support the candidates and maximize the safe zone.

If the KMT wins the presidential election, some of the legislators could be invited to join the government, which would create legislative opportunities for other individuals, Wu said.

The 18 candidates in the "safe zone" were Wang; KMT Legislator Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱); KMT Policy Committee convener Tseng Yung-chuan (曾永權); KMT Legislator Pan Wei-kang (潘維剛); KMT Legislator Chiu Yi (邱毅); a PFP legislator; KMT Legislator Chin Chieh (陳杰); KMT Legislator Lee Jih-chu (李紀珠); a PFP legislator; the National Policy Foundation's Chao Li-yun (趙麗雲); KMT Legislator Lee Chia-chin (李嘉進); KMT Legislator Liao Wan-ju (廖婉汝); KMT Legislator Chi Kuo-tung (紀國棟); a PFP legislator; Ten Ren Tea president Lii Ming-shing (李明星); KMT Legislator Kuo Su-chun (郭素春); chairman of the World Hakka Federation Liu Sheng-liang (劉盛良) and deputy commissioner of the KMT's policy committee Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文).

Wu declined to confirm whether the party had ranked Wang No. 1 to promote his bid for reelection as speaker.

"If the pan-blue camp wins the majority in the legislature, we will give our blessings to Speaker Wang for his reelection," he said.

The party nominated Chiu -- now serving time in jail -- to honor his "dedication to bring various scandals to light," Wu said.

The list will be sent to the KMT Central Committee for final approval on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the KMT Central Standing Committee yesterday maintained its decision to omit the "1992 consensus" from its key mission statement for next year, despite opposition by deep-blue members and supporters. It said the "the KMT's cross-strait policies were based on the party charter and policy guidelines."

"The `1992 consensus' and the guidelines are already included in the party Charter, which is the cornerstone of the KMT's policies. It's not necessary to put all the contents of the Charter into a much less important document," KMT Spokesman Su Jun-pin (蘇俊賓) said.

At a separate setting, Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) said yesterday there is no such thing as a "1992 consensus," as it refers to "one China with each side having a different interpretation."