No leader in Taiwan opinion polls

President Chen's DPP only controls 66 of the 225 legislative seats

By Willy Wo-Lap Lam
Senior China Analyst

(CNN) -- Taiwan's politicians are engaged in last-minute horse-trading as opinion surveys indicate none of the three major parties will control the Legislature Yuan after the December 1 parliamentary elections.

While campaigning for his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) over the weekend, President Chen Shui-bian reiterated his sincerity in building a "cross-party alliance for national stability."

Chen and his aides said after the elections, the DPP would strive to build a non-partisan cabinet with representatives from the rival Kuomintang (KMT), or Nationalists Party, and the People's First Party (PFP).

KMT politicians, however, have attacked the Chen plan as an election gimmick aimed at enticing KMT politicians and legislators who still remain loyal to its ousted chairman, former president Lee Teng-hui.

A few months ago, Lee formed a Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU), which is considered a loose ally of the DPP.

On Sunday, DPP Secretary-general Wu Nai-jen said together with seats picked up by the TSU and the pro-Lee wing of the KMT, the DPP should be able to control half of the 225 seats of the Legislative Yuan.

At the same time, KMT chairman and former president Lien Chan has faced difficulty trying to persuade the PFP to form a so-called "pan-blue alliance" against Chen's DPP.

PFP vice-chairman Chang Chao-hsiung, however, has faulted the KMT leadership for lack of sincerity.

No majority

Chang said the KMT had refused to take up offers by the PCP that both parties field joint candidates for the parliamentary elections as well as companion polls to pick the 21 mayors and county chiefs.

According to political scientist Professor Joseph Wu of Taiwan's National Chengchi University, "Taiwan will face an unprecedented political situation because it is almost certain that none of the three major parties will have a majority in legislature."

Meanwhile, Beijing officials have continued to keep silent over the first Taiwan polls after Chen shocked China by winning the presidency in March 2001.

The official Chinese media have continued to play down the coverage of the campaign.

On Monday, state television ran a long feature on the price wars between Taipei department stories, but nothing on the noisy electoral battles on the streets.