Thu, Apr 21, 2005 page8

• Chou's KMT embrace a sign of pan-blue split

  • By Lay Yo-ming 賴祐民
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  There is nothing unusual about politicians changing party allegiances in a competitive multi-party system. Nevertheless, legislator Chou Hsi-wei's (周錫瑋) defection to the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) from the People First Party (PFP), motivated by self interest, has had an incalculable effect on the current political scene, and on how the electorate perceives the different parties.

  From the controversy following the presidential election to the frustration of losses in the legislative elections, the PFP has had difficulties defining itself -- put-ting the party's very survival at risk. Chou's defection at this time could precipitate a domino effect ending in the dissolution of the PFP. Chou should therefore accept the blame being leveled at him from within the PFP. And he may well become the scapegoat for the pan-blue camp's collapse.

  In recent years, it's been increasingly difficult for the KMT and PFP to see eye to eye. This, together with issues resulting from the loss of the presidential election, has caused many conflicts.

  Following the meeting between President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜), as well as differences that surfaced during the 319 rally, relations between the two parties have been frosty. The absence of a definite date for a meeting between Soong and KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) is evidence of the coldness between the parties.

  These tensions are not simply rooted in politics. They also stem from differences in their electoral bases. During elections, there are a certain number of "swing" votes between the two pan-blue parties, with some KMT supporters voting for PFP candidates and vice versa. Regardless, there is a line between them, a line deliberately drawn by Soong when he established the PFP. This line sought to distance the party from corruption and make it more reform-oriented. PFP supporters hold the party up to these expectations.

  Most PFP supporters back the party because they believe its ideals represent their own. Such voters have a strong sense of party identification and loyalty, and form the PFP's main support base.

  This party loyalty was completely diluted by Chou's astonishing move. Chou is considered a heavyweight PFP member. He has also leveled trenchant criticism at the previous KMT regime and its ill-gotten assets. He publicly questioned the source of Lien's NT$2.8 billion (US$89 million) of personal assets, and uncovered the shadowy use of funds donated to the Lien Chen-tung (連震東) Foundation (which was founded to commemorate Lien's father). He even repeatedly accused the KMT of being involved in vote-buying during the 2000 presidential election.

  His accusations against both the party and its chairman are still fresh in our minds. He has now returned to the party he once despised -- as if he was previously mistaken -- and has yet to account for his action. If he made his move just so he could prepare for the Taipei County commissioner election. his decision lacks legitimacy.

  When Chou, who has consistently campaigned against corruption, returned to the KMT, the so-called black-gold party, he blurred the distinctions between parties. And he put his political self-interest ahead of party ideals. PFP supporters can now vote for other parties. I am afraid the conflicts between the KMT and the PFP will only increase as a result.

  Therefore, the "Chou effect" won't just change voter behavior. It will also be a catalyst for the pan-blue camp's split. Chou said he threw a stone, and indeed he did. But this was no pebble paving the way for KMT-PFP cooperation, as he claimed. It is a boulder threatening to become an obstacle to pan-blue camp unity.

  Lay Yo-ming is a member of the council staff of the Legislative Yuan.

  Translated by Paul Cooper and Eddy Chang
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