The race for the chairmanship of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) officially started yesterday, with the formal and public announcement by Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
It will most certainly be a very tight race between Wang and Ma. Although Ma is an immensely popular political figure known for his ability to transcend ethnic groups in terms of support, he has on more than one occasion shown himself to be an indecisive man who needs a lot more polishing when it comes to crisis management. Cases in point include his mishandling of a series of crises faced by Taipei City, from the scandals involving municipal hospitals to the injuries sustained by members of the public in Taipei's MRT stations. Unfortunately for Ma, determination happens to be an essential requirement for the next chairman of the KMT, which is in urgent need of reform.
What's more, Ma is not exactly the most popular man in the pan-blue camp these days. One reason for this is that Ma announced his intention to vie for the chairmanship before Lien even acknowledged that he would vacate the post.
In a highly conservative party such as the KMT, where respect for seniority and the existing hierarchy cannot be questioned, Ma is seen to be staging a coup against Lien. Then there is the grudge which the People First Party (PFP) and KMT members hold toward Ma over his handling of the pan-blue protests in front of the Presidential Office after the presidential election.
While Wang may not have Ma's good looks and charisma, he is known for his good interpersonal relationships and connections both inside the pan-blue camp and elsewhere. This big contrast between him and Ma is highlighted by his patience in waiting for the right timing to announce his participation in the chairmanship race. While everyone knew that he had his heart set on running in the race, he waited until yesterday -- after Lien announced that he would not run in the race himself -- before finally making a formal announcement. His popularity is demonstrated by the fact that more than 60 current members and 60 former members of the Legislative Yuan participated in the press conference at which he made the announcement.
Wang is also perceived as the key figure in the nativization camp within the KMT. For this reason, even the pan-greens tend to feel friendly toward Wang. However, this may not necessarily be an advantage in his quest to become chairman. After all, members of the KMT generally still embrace the "Great China" ideology. A large segment of the KMT's membership is comprised of aging veterans who are ethnic Mainlanders. They may worry that Wang would lead the KMT onto a path toward nativization. In order to allay the concerns of these people, Wang has already pledged his so-called "three nos": no new name for the Republic of China, no new Constitution and no Taiwanese independence.
The chairmanship election holds the key to the future of the KMT. In any event, the party's move toward democracy, however belated, is a good sign. May the best man win.
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