President Ma, DPP chair Tsai campaign for their respective parties

President and Kuomintang Chairman Ma Ying-jeou campaigned in Hualien County, with plans to visit a total of eight counties and cities in Taiwan and the outlying islands during the weekend, the Central News Agency said.

Premier Wu Den-yih stumped for KMT candidates in Taiwan's southernmost Pingtung County.

Tsai Ing-wen, chairwoman of the Democratic Progressive Party, showed up in the southern counties of Yunlin and Chiayi, asking supporters to help the opposition rewrite history.

Most regions in Taiwan will elect their local government chiefs and members of representative bodies on Dec. 5.

The ruling party may see its chances for victory in Hualien threatened by infighting. An ex-KMT maverick is running an independent campaign against KMT-nominated candidate Tu Li-hua for the Hualien County magistrate seat.

Stumping for Tu, Ma stressed that the KMT has nominated honest candidates in order to win the elections and the trust of the people.

Political parties need discipline, without which they would disintegrate, said Ma.

In Yunlin, Tsai said the disintegration of the KMT would start in the southern county.

She noted that the DPP recently won a by-election for a seat representing Yunlin in the national Legislature, breaking the long-time control of the county by local KMT factions.

The upcoming race will continue the success and kick-start the disintegration of the KMT's local factions, said Tsai.

In Chiayi, DPP candidate Chang Hua-kuan, who is running for the county magistrate post, said she would withdraw from the race if the KMT agreed to abandon its plan to sign an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China.

The KMT is bent on signing the ECFA, ignoring the fact that a public opinion poll has shown that 60 percent Taiwan's people are against it, Chang said.

Tsai lauded Chang for her gesture. She said Ma has given top priority to signing the ECFA since taking office, but he has never conducted a thorough evaluation of the issue or reached a national consensus.

The DPP has decided to hold a mass rally in Taichung City on Dec. 20 to protest against the fourth round of negotiations between Taiwan and China.

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