Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chiu Ching-chun (
"The reason I'm joining the PFP is very simple: I identify with a clean, quality political party, and such a party has every reason to be perpetuated," Chiu said.
Chiu also took the opportunity to criticize the KMT, which he said lacked credibility.
"Honesty and sincerity are very important for a political party. The KMT, unfortunately, disappoints me in this regard," Chiu said.
He said he "quit party operations" in April to focus on his campaign for the Hsinchu County commissionership because of the party's support for Cheng's re-election bid.
When Cheng first ran for the commissionership, Chiu said, he was to seek only one term in office. But with the KMT's central committee supporting Cheng in this year's Hsinchu County election, Chiu said that the party was making the "game rules unfair."
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and PFP had been trying to win Chiu over in order to split the KMT vote.
While the PFP has nominated former National Assembly member Chen Chi-hui (
Chen Chi-hui said yesterday that she would consider dropping out of the race if Chiu stood a better chance of winning.
Upset with his own party as well as the DPP, Chiu yesterday decided to defect to the PFP despite the concerns expressed by Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
Chiu said that both Wang and Ma had phoned him on Tuesday to dissuade him from leaving the party.
"I told them not to worry too much, because I will still be in the pan-blue camp," Chiu said.
Wang yesterday said that there is still hope for pan-blue cooperation in Hsinchu County and that their ultimate goal is winning the election.
Commenting on Ma's attempt to persuade Chiu to stay in the party, Wang said that "sincerity is very important."
Chiu yesterday dismissed speculation that his defection resulted from his personal displeasure with Cheng and constituted an attempt to unite the "anti-Cheng" forces.
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