KMT politicians close to Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) say the former president may step back into politics during the year-end legislative elections to campaign for "old friends" from across party lines who share his localization reform ideals.
The politicians, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Lee has not yet made a final decision, though there is a high possibility he may take to the campaign trail.
FILE PHOTO: TAIPEI TIMES
Lee is worried that the KMT is backtracking on the localization line he established during his 12 years in power.
According to the sources, Lee for two reasons feels betrayed by his hand-picked successor, Lien Chan (
In order to sustain the localization line and safeguard Lee's historical legacy, the sources said it was necessary to help President Chen Shui-bian (
In the book An Account of President Lee Teng-hui in Power (
Lee says a political reshuffle, which he calls an alliance of the mainstream, may occur after the year-end legislative elections.
"Based on the three splits experienced by the KMT in the past, those who do not follow the localization line won't have any reason to exist in the future," Lee says.
Lee says that the KMT, after cooperating with the PFP, seems to be weakening and has to use money to unite its members.
"At this time, it depends on whether President Chen Shui-bian is able to control the initiative to change the situation and ally with KMT people who share similar ideals to form a more steady framework of political cooperation," Lee says.
Lee's comment is consistent with a recent message released by Chen, in which the president expressed an interest in allying with individual lawmakers with ideals similar to the DPP's after the year-end legislative elections to ensure the DPP is able to gain a majority in the legislature.
Over the past few months there have been numerous reports that some pro-Lee KMT politicians following the so-called localization line are preparing to break away from the KMT and ally themselves with the DPP after the elections.
While there was suspicion as to whether Lee was supportive of the plan, the publication of the book seems to go some way toward clearing up the doubt.
Some KMT lawmakers yesterday predicted that with Lee's support, at least 20 KMT lawmakers will desert the party to cooperate with the DPP.
The lawmakers, however, said the action will only be taken after the elections, because they still need the KMT's resources to win their legislative seats.
Meanwhile, senior journalist and political commentator Hu Chung-hsin (
"This situation will develop to become a duel between the two camps in the year-end legislative elections," Hu said.
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