Updated Saturday, February 17, 2007 0:00 am TWN, The China Post

KMT can’t afford another division

The Kuomintang (KMT), which ruled Taiwan for more than 50 years, lost the presidential election in 2000 and became an opposition party. The loss would not have occurred if it had remained united. James Soong, who was a popular politician, broke with the party and ran as an independent. If he had run with the KMT’s candidate, Lien Chan, the votes they gained would have exceeded those garnered by the DPP’s candidate, Chen Shui-bian.

Now, the KMT is facing a similar crisis. Ma Ying-jeou, who just resigned as chairman of the KMT after being indicted on corruption charges, has announced he will run in the 2008 presidential election.

But another KMT heavyweight, Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng, also plans to run in the election.

It’s important that the competition between the two of them for party nomination be dealt with tactfully.

According to a poll conducted by the mass-circulated United Daily News, Ma’s popularity has increased dramatically since he was indicted. It seems that he has gained the sympathy of some of those who previously doubted him.

KMT authorities must do a good job of resolving the contention between Ma and Wang. The party has little hope of winning the presidential election if it continues to be troubled by internal squabbling.

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