Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairperson candidate Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) yesterday urged the new KMT caucus to be a responsible opposition party after the ninth legislature, which is dominated by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), took office.
Hung made the remarks during a visit to Hsinchu County to garner support from fellow party members to back her leadership bid, which requires the signatures from at least 3 percent of all party members before Feb. 21.
“The KMT received a major blow in the elections. The party was not defeated by others, but by people on its side. At a time when the DPP is to assume full control of Taiwan’s executive and legislative branches of government, it is imperative for the KMT to pick itself up and rise from its ashes,” Hung said.
She said that the DPP’s total rule in the next four years means that the KMT is to be left with nothing.
Nevertheless, the KMT, which holds 35 seats in the 113-seat legislature, should fulfill its duty as a responsible opposition party, not let its guard down and maintain its “combat capability,” Hung said.
“By ‘combat capability’ I do not mean opposing any policies tabled by the DPP, but rather to supervise them in a rational manner. If the DPP puts forward policies conducive to the welfare of the nation and its people, then the KMT must give it its full support,” she said.
Hung said that the KMT should introduce better plans should there be room for improvement in the DPP’s versions.
It is natural that the DPP would take advantage of its legislative majority and attempt to push policies in its own manner, but the KMT should take a tougher stance when encountering policies that are “far too unreasonable,” Hung said. “The party must ... show the public that the DPP has done something wrong, but it should under no circumstances cause damage to the legislature like the DPP once did.”
Hung also downplayed KMT Legislator Chen Hsueh-sheng’s (陳雪生) remarks at the KMT caucus’ first meeting yesterday that the lineup for the party’s March 26 chairperson by-election showed that “any random person can vie for the post.”
“I think Chen’s criticism is only meant to remind me and other hopefuls that we are yet to be competent enough to lead the party. It is my job to persuade others into recognizing my ability, but it is the job of every KMT member to bring the party back to life,” Hung said.
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