KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
Huang also predicted that it would be impossible for the KMT, People First Party and New Party to form an alliance after the elections because they are unlikely to reach a compromise on who would lead the group.
PHOTO: CHANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
In addition, Huang commented on rampant speculation that Wang Jin-pyng (
Huang said the situation shows that the prospect of Lien -- the KMT nominee in last year's presidential election, who came in a distant third -- running for the presidency in 2004 are bleak.
"Lien will lose his chairmanship before the next presidential election," Huang said. "He is clueless that his position is in great peril."
Huang, the former minister of the interior under former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), attributed the KMT's dwindling support to internal discord over whether it should follow the localization path or follow those who advocate re-unification with China.
"The KMT's approval rating used to reach more than 90 percent, but it fell to 50 percent in the last legislative elections three years ago," Huang said.
"The cause of the decline in popularity is indecision about its future -- whether it should become more localized or pander to China."
The two factions have refused to reach a consensus on the matter and previous election results clearly show that the party is suffering as a result of its internal divisions.
Elaborating on the relations between the TSU and president Lee -- the party's spiritual leader -- Huang said Lee would return to his "supreme status" after the elections.
"The TSU is a tiny party. How can we ask Lee to be our's alone?" Huang said.
Lee announced on Tuesday that he will preside over Taiwan Advocates (群策會) -- a cross-party, multi-ethnic advocacy group -- after the elections.
It has been reported that the group plans to take a leading role in the post-election political realignment after the elections, with KMT heavyweights like Wang Jin-pyng receiving an invitation.
On Monday, Lee threw his support behind Wang, applauding his job in the legislature. He also called on Kaohsiung residents to continue supporting Wang, who is running for a ninth term in the legislature.
The former president's open endorsement of Wang has triggered speculation that the cozy relationship between the two will help attract 25 newly-elected lawmakers to the pan-green camp to capture an outright legislative majority.
Wang called Lien yesterday to stress his loyalty to the party. He reassured the party chairman that he will not defect. "How can I take 25 legislators away?" he said.
Wang said that he had not been informed of the formation of Taiwan Advocates.
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