A poll conducted by the Chinese-language China Times that suggested the support gap was closing between the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) drew varied responses from both parties in the legislature yesterday.
The poll showed support for the KMT’s presidential candidate, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), and vice -presidential candidate Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) at 40.6 percent, while the DPP’s presidential and vice presidential candidates, DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and Su Jia-chyuan, (蘇嘉全) was 36.9 percent.
Support for People First Party (PFP) presidential and vice presidential hopefuls, PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) and Lin Ruey-hsiung (林瑞雄), was 10.6 percent.
DPP caucus director-general Tsai Huang-liang (蔡煌瑯) said Tsai Ing-wen’s rising support was due to the success of her rallies along Provincial Highway No. 1 and a series of mistakes by the Ma camp, adding that the DPP was nevertheless taking the poll in its stride.
Tsai Huang-liang was apparently referring to the cross-strait peace accord Ma has been discussing and his subsequent flip-flops on the matter.
The “mistakes” Tsai Huang-liang was referring to were the cross-strait peace accord Ma has been discussing and his subsequent changes in attitude on the matter.
DPP caucus secretary-general Wong Chin-chu (翁金珠) said that even though support from pan-green supporters was rising, the DPP should still tread carefully, adding that the party should endeavor to better explain its aims and policies as well as the advantages of electing Tsai Ing-wen.
KMT caucus whip Chao Li-yun (趙麗雲) said Ma was willing to make “10 guarantees” to show Taiwanese that the cross-strait peace accord was an issue that cannot be avoided.
On Monday, Ma issued “10 guarantees,” or preconditions, that must be in place before Taiwan would consider working towards a peace accord with China.
He also said a referendum could be necessary for such an accord to be signed.
This is a responsible attitude, Chao said, adding the DPP’s attempts to redirect the focus on the issue of amendments to the Referendum Act (公民投票法) constituted an attempt to blur the lines.
The focus is on the cross-strait peace accord, not the referendum, Chao said, adding that the direction of Ma’s peace accord proposal should receive the support of the majority of the people.
Support rates rise and fall, especially before elections, Chao said, adding there should be careful deliberation and reference to the polls with each rise and fall of support ratings.
However, the party in power should not give up its responsibilities because support ratings fluctuate, Chao said.
Translated by Jake Chung, Staff Writer
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