Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus deputy secretary-general Lo Shu-lei (羅淑蕾) yesterday accused the New Party of sabotaging solidarity in the pan-blue camp by nominating its own candidate for the by-election to fill the seat left vacant after former KMT legislator Diane Lee (李慶安) stepped down.
Lo, formerly a legislator-at-large for the KMT’s ally the People First Party (PFP), said the New Party last year criticized the PFP for planning to nominate its own candidates in the legislative election.
‘HYPOCRITICAL’
The New Party’s decision to endorse Yao Li-ming (姚立明) instead of supporting the KMT’s candidate, long-time Taipei City Councilor Chiang Nai-shin (蔣乃辛), only proved how “hypocritical” the New Party was, she said.
Yao, a former New Party legislator, registered as an independent candidate in Taipei City’s sixth electoral district yesterday.
When his intention to run was announced on Thursday, the New Party said it would support him.
ROW
Yao, Chiang and Democratic Progressive Party Taipei City Councilor Chou Po-ya (周柏雅) will run for the seat left vacant after Lee resigned last month over a dual citizenship controversy.
The by-election is scheduled for March 28.
The New Party’s insistence on nominating its own candidate instead of fully endorsing Chiang has prompted media speculation about the impact of a pan-blue split in the polls.
ACCUSATIONS
Announcing that Yao would run in the by-election, New Party Chairman Yok Mu-ming (郁慕明) on Thursday accused the KMT of trying to avoid responsibility for Lee’s citizenship scandal.
“The by-election is the best chance for pan-blue supporters to teach the KMT a lesson,” Yok said.
Yao said yesterday that the KMT was not qualified to run for the seat unless it sincerely apologized for the Lee controversy.
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