KMT and PFP officials yesterday remained low-key toward a proposal for KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
While Lien himself would not comment on the proposal yesterday, officials from both parties believe that it is still premature to talk about this issue now.
The proposal for a Lien-Soong ticket was raised by some participants at a seminar held for KMT public office-holders from Taoyuan, Hsinchu and Miaoli counties on Friday.
PHOTO: LIN CHENG-KUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Advocates of the proposal expected the KMT and PFP to closely cooperate with each other in future elections, arguing that the two parties would stand a big chance of victory by fielding a joint candidate in the next presidential race.
Responding to the opinion at the scene, KMT Secretary-General Lin Fong-cheng (
Unlike the positive reaction made by Lin on Friday, the KMT tried to play down the issue yesterday. KMT Vice Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (
"As far as the presidential ticket is concerned, it is too early to jump to a conclusion now," Wu said.
In addition, Wu said, the KMT has to abide by a democratic process and follow the party's system in selecting its presidential candidate.
"I think there is still time for us to continue to listen to public opinion," Wu said.
Holding a similar view, PFP spokesman Hsieh Kung-ping (
"Only after we have fought two good fights can we give the public more confidence in the prospect of KMT-PFP cooperation. And only then will the public be concerned about the next presidential race," Hsieh said.
Meanwhile, PFP Legislator Liu Wen-hsiung (
Under this circumstance, the PFP has coordinated well with the KMT in several rounds of showdown votes taking place in the legislature over the past months, Liu said.
Though believing it is still too early to discuss the presidential ticket, Liu suggested that the approval ratings of Lien and Soong among the public and their potential to beat President Chen Shui-bian (
It is generally considered a difficult problem to settle as to who should lead the ticket and who should be the running mate even if Lien and Soong eventually agree to team up with each other. While Soong has always enjoyed higher approval ratings than Lien, and also won more votes than Lien did in the last presidential bid in 2000, it is doubtful as to whether the KMT would let Soong lead the ticket.
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