The Kuomintang (KMT), the main opposition party, is not faring much better in terms of staying united. Its two most prominent political figures, Ma Ying-jeou and Wang Jin-pyng, have both been seeking the opportunity to run for the 2008 presidential election.

So far Ma, former KMT chairman and Taipei mayor, appears to have gained the upper hand. He was confirmed as the party’s candidate on Tuesday after Wang, president of the Legislative Yuan, decided not to take part in the primary. Wang claimed the primary was designed in a way that was unfair to him.

On being confirmed, Ma said he would meet with Wang in person and ask him to be his running mate. Wang refused to comment. The silence is a signal of the parliament speaker’s preference to run his own presidential campaign.

“All I can say is what I have said time and time again, I am not going to talk about that,” said the parliament speaker, who is waiting to see what will befall Ma Ying-jeou, who was indicted for alleged corruption on February 13.

But Wang added he is not averse to the idea of meeting face-to-face with Ma, provided there is “a third person” at the meeting. “The two-man meeting appears like a deal being made behind closed doors,” he declared.

Ma is accused of misusing his “special expense allowance” while he was Taipei mayor from 1998 to 2006. If convicted, he may be disqualified as candidate for 2008. Wang has assumed a want-and-see attitude.

However, approval polls have so far indicated Ma is leading all other potential presidential candidates, inside and outside the KMT. As a result, Ma will probably stay in the race even if he is found guilty by the Taipei District Court. KMT authorities are ready to amend the party’s bylaw that requires a presidential candidate to drop out of the race if he is found guilty of corruption by the district court.

In the meantime, the ruling DPP is trying to get an “Anti-Ma” bill adopted by the Legislative Yuan to disqualify the popular former chairman of the Kuomintang. According to the bill, which has been stalled, Ma will be disqualified if he is convicted at the first trial.

The Taipei District Court, where Ma is being tried, is taking all the time it needs to finish trying first lady Wu Shu-chen for alleged corruption. Wu has time and again refused to appear in court. The court appears to be in no hurry to conclude the trial.

Wu’s trial began much earlier, but there seems little chance that it will come to an end before President Chen Shui-bian leaves office on May 20, 2008. President Chen has promised to step down if his wife is convicted at the first trial. He could have been indicted together with her on November 3 last year, but he enjoys presidential immunity. He was regarded as an unindicted co-defendant who may be formally charged after leaving office.

But the notoriously slow court of law is likely to work with exceptional efficiency in handling Ma’s case. The court may convict Ma long before the presidential election takes place in March next year.

A united KMT will help prevent this development. Wang should have the wisdom to realize that his chances of beating the DPP’s Su Tseng-chang or Frank Hsieh in the presidential race are almost nil. And Lien Chan, honorary chairman of the KMT, should also recognize the crisis the party faces. Lien should help forge a close cooperative relationship between Ma and Wang. Failure to do so could lead to disastrous results for the party.

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