Taiwan's largest opposition party, the Kuomintang, yesterday refused to join a broad-based alliance proposed by the ruling party after suffering a humiliating defeat in Saturday's elections, losing its control in the Legislative Yuan.
The KMT said it would seek stronger ties with the People First Party (PFP) to form a united front to counter the influence of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party. Together, the KMT and PFP hold 114 seats in the legislature - more than those held by the DPP and its allies.
'We have already decided not to participate in the national stability alliance,' KMT spokesman Wang Chih-kang said in a reference to a proposal from President Chen Shui-bian.
Although Mr Wang said it was normal for ruling and opposition parties to work together, he indicated that the KMT preferred the PFP.
Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou, a rising star in the KMT, said yesterday he would submit a proposal on co-operation between the KMT and PFP to a party meeting on Wednesday.
On Saturday, the KMT lost its 55-year long dominance in the legislature and its number of seats there dropped to 68. It had 110 seats before the election. The DPP won 87 seats and became the biggest political party in the legislature but still lacks majority control.