In response to calls for Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) defectors to maintain pan-blue solidarity ahead of the Nov. 29 elections, People First Party (PFP) spokesman Wu Kun-yu (吳崑玉) yesterday said that the public did not want to see a clash along traditional fault lines and would be turned off by such rhetoric; calling on KMT splinter parties to cease such rhetoric as it might end up causing damage to KMT Taipei mayoral candidate Sean Lien’s (連勝文) chances of getting elected.
Wu’s comments were directed at New Party Chairman Yok Mu-ming (郁慕明), who earlier this week said that independent Taipei mayoral candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) is in fact still deeply involved in pan-green parties, despite claims that he looked to exceed such traditional divisions and called for a “grand coalition.”
Yok called on PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) to lay aside previous grievances and support the Republic of China (ROC).
Wu said that since 2004, the public had tired of the rivalry between the KMT and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), adding that the true enemies to Taiwanese politics were the ultra-loyal supporters of both the pan-blue and pan-green camps.
“The position of mayor is like a caretaker, but when everyone is expecting the caretaker to be a jumping board, chaos ensues,” Wu said. “The PFP is not choosing sides between Lien and Ko; Ko is not as great as he thinks, he is simply in the right place at the right time with the right ideas.”
Lien was once also on the right path, Wu said, pointing to Lien’s previous criticism of President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), which Wu said had led people to believe that Lien was a person who knew right from wrong.
“However, Lien abandoned the road himself,” Wu said.
“Ma would not let Lien go back,” he said, adding sarcastically that Ma, who doubles as KMT chairman, stumping for Lien last night was in fact a sincere attempt to cause Lien to lose the election.
Wu also said Yok’s using the ROC as a rallying standard was behind the times, and that the public would not stand for corrupt officials and immoral businessmen, even if it meant supporting a nation called the ROC.
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