Yesterday in Taipei, Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) and People First
Party (PFP) held their first ever talks on the possibility of a
merger between the two parties, according to Xinhua News Agency
today.
Interest in a merger was reignited after the local elections in
Taiwan on December 3, in which KMT candidates won 14 of 23 mayoral
positions.
A five-member PFP team held the closed-door meeting with KMT
Chairman Ma Ying-jeou and other senior KMT officials.
The talks are merely a preparatory meeting for an upcoming
summit, said a KMT spokesperson.
There are still many issues that could hinder a possible merger,
such as the future position of PFP Chairman James Soong, according
to local media.
The chairmen of both parties are scheduled to meet on December
12.
(Xinhua News Agency December 9, 2005)