Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) has supported Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) since 1994 and is willing to help the president consolidate his power in the year-end legislative elections, excerpts from a new book about Lee's 12-year presidency revealed yesterday.
Support of Chen also indicates that Lee is strongly disappointed with his hand-picked successor, current KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
Many politicians say that the book suggests Lee wishes to help Chen to win the support of pro-Lee KMT and independent lawmakers to shore up the DPP's power.
Chen last night predicted that after the election, "Some political parties will disintegrate, some will split and some will reorganize."
In recent weeks, many political analysts have speculated that up to 20 to 30 pro-Lee KMT lawmakers will align with the DPP at the direction of Lee.
"The DPP will cooperate with those politicians who share our ideals to form a stable majority in the Legislative Yuan," he said.
The new book titled An Account of Lee Teng-hui in Power (李登輝執政告白實錄), written by senior reporter Tzou Jiing-wen (鄒景雯), will be published today. A few excerpts discussing Lee's relations with Lien, People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) and Chen have been published in the Chinese-language press during the past few days.
Chen, reciprocating Lee's support, has written the book's preface, titled, "The power of the people is irresistible." In the book, Chen writes that he greatly appreciated Lee's efforts to accomplish a peaceful transition of power.
"Though we are from different parties, our roots are the same," he writes.
Asked last night during a meeting with 39 editors in chief why he had been willing to write a preface for a book about Lee, Chen said that during the transfer of power there had been many crises, which Lee had helped to solve. By writing the preface for the book, Chen was showing his "utmost respect" for Lee, he said.
In the excerpts published yesterday, Lee comments on the DPP government -- especially Chen's performance since he took office a year ago -- saying that, "The difficulties Chen faced after taking office will help to train him as a statesman."
According to the book, Lee first expressed his support for Chen during the 1994 Taipei city mayoral election because Chen was the first of the then-opposition politicians to win a substantial opportunity to govern.
"Lee even instructed KMT Taipei District headquarters not to look for trouble with Chen on purpose," the book says. "Lee also wanted his aides to recognize that invitations to him from Chen to attend public activities should take priority over any other arrangement."
The book says that though Lee campaigned for Ma Ying-jeou (
"Lee cited the Bible story of Moses and Joshua to cheer on Chen," the book says. "Lee sincerely hoped the opposition party would have an elite leader who could grow up to shoulder the affairs of state, and Lee believed Chen would be the one."
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