With post-election cooperation again becoming a hot topic, KMT Secretary-General Lin Fong-cheng (
In addition to asking President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) to abide by the constitutional framework -- a semi-presidency -- the KMT wants Chen to respect the majority party's or majority alliance's right to lead the formation of the Cabinet and give the KMT a chance to improve the economy.
"Of course anything is possible after the elections, but if we are to cooperate with the DPP, these three preconditions are a must," Lin said.
Responding to the KMT's demands, DPP Secretary-General Wu Nai-jen (
Wu said it is inappropriate to talk about such preconditions since votes have not been cast and the number of seats to be won by each party is still unknown.
"If the KMT [election effort] ends up a debacle, will the KMT still be qualified to set any preconditions?" Wu asked.
Discussion over the possibility of a KMT-DPP coalition after the Dec. 1 legislative elections surfaced again over the past days, after two pro-localization KMT candidates from Taipei -- Legislator Chen Horng-chi (
Their suggestion has been interpreted as a move to bring to the surface the struggle over the party line and has fueled reports that some KMT politicians would defect to the DPP after the elections.
While the pair is suspected of being among the potential defectors, some DPP and People First Party (PFP) members have gone so far as to claim that they had a list of names of those ready to jump ship.
Lin yesterday dismissed the reports as the kind of false information spread by rivals in an attempt to split the KMT and boost their showing in the Dec. 1 polls.
"Both the DPP and PFP have been trying to split the KMT, plundering a house when it is on fire. They want to split the KMT to save their shaky campaigns," Lin said.
Lin guaranteed that no KMT members would leave the party after the elections.
On the contrary, a "considerable number" of non-KMT politicians would become the KMT's allies after the elections, Lin said.
He said the "personal opinion" and campaign tactics of the two candidates will be respected, as long as they do not hurt the party.
Chen Horng-chi and Chen Hsueh-fen yesterday dared their accusers to present evidence to back up allegations that the pair would defect to the DPP after the elections.
They said they would quit the legislative races if such evidence was made available.
They stressed the purpose of their bid is to push for party-to-party negotiations between the KMT and DPP to form a strong Cabinet capable of resolving the nation's economic problems.
Meanwhile, New Party heavyweight Yok Mu-ming (
Yok said the KMT, PFP and New Party should negotiate a merger after the elections to ensure the opposition alliance's victory in the 2004 presidential race.
Yok argued that President Chen has been trying to block the formation of an opposition alliance because it would threaten his next presidential bid.
In response, Lin said the format of inter-party cooperation should be discussed after the elections so that a "wise" decision can be made.
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old
SEA SEARCH: Nine crew members of a cargo ship had taken to the water after the vessel sunk off the southern coast, with a rescue effort under way, officials said The strongest typhoon to hit Taiwan in eight years yesterday killed three people and flooded parts of the nation’s second-biggest city, while rescuers were searching for nine sailors after their cargo ship sank in the storm. Typhoon Gaemi transformed streets in Kaohsiung into rivers, with some households flooded. Offices and schools were closed for the second consecutive day, with thousands of people evacuated. Three people died and 380 were injured due to strong winds and torrential rainfall brought by Typhoon Gaemi, the Central Emergency Response Center said. The typhoon made landfall in Yilan County’s Nanao Township (南澳) at midnight yesterday and departed Taiwan
Taiwanese athletes yesterday and on Saturday edged closer to winning a medal in a strong showing in the first two days of the Paris Olympics. Taiwanese badminton ace Tai Tzu-ying (戴資穎) defeated Belgium’s Lianne Tan in the group stage of the women’s singles yesterday. Although Tai has not played in any professional competitions in the past three months due to injuries and Olympic preparations, the Taiwanese dispatched Tan in a swift 38 minutes, winning 21-15, 21-14. It was Tai’s third consecutive career victory over Tan. The 30-year-old Taiwanese was next to play longtime friend and rival, Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon, in the group stage. Per Olympic