Democratic chaos or chaotic democracy?

Democratic chaos or chaotic democracy?

While the Kuomintang (KMT) is mired in its unpopular list of proposed legislative candidates and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is mired in the alleged plagiarism controversy of its vice presidential candidate academician Chen Chien-ren, the People First Party (PFP) opened its “joint” campaign headquarters in Taipei in the morning on November 21, 2015.  It is a “joint” campaign headquarters of the People’s First Party (PFP) and the Min Kuo Tang (MKT) of James Soong’s running mate Hsu Hsin-yin who is chairwoman of the MKT.  Their “joint” political platform is to help medium and small enterprises and the youth generation to revive Taiwan’s economy and further Taiwan’s high tech industries.  Chairwoman Hsu Hsin-yin has a technical educational background.  It was estimated that a “surprising” 10,000 supporters showed up for the “joint” campaign headquarters’ opening rally.

The inter-party bickering between the Pan Blue led by the KMT and the Pan Green led by the DPP that began in 2000 and that has continued throughout the past 16 years of both the DPP administration 2000-2008 and the KMT administration 2008-2016 is still continuing.  In contrast, the joint PFP and MKT campaign is showing inter-party unity and solidarity.  Both James Soong and Hsu Hsin-yin have said that the relationship between the PFP and the MKT is cooperation of two separate political parties, not a merger of two political parties.  Each party has its own separate legislative candidates.  James Soong says that voters are welcome to vote for either the MKT or the PFP in casting their party preference ballot.

James Soong’s pick for his running mate has been a surprise to many, and the coming together of the weak PFP and the relatively popular new MKT is also a refreshing surprise.  And apparently, the 10,000 supporters who turned out for the opening of the joint campaign headquarters are also a pleasant surprise.