TAIWAN'S New Party was officially launched in Taipei yesterday, with a mission to give voters a choice other than the KMT and the Democratic Progressive Party.
New Party officials said the crowd of 15,000 who attended their launch ceremony at a sports stadium in a Taipei suburb was more than they had expected.
The crowd, consisting mostly of under-40s, clapped and cheered loudly as New Party leaders announced plans to contest elections later this year for municipal and county-level leadership positions.
The public also expressed approval when politicians attacked the ''Leninism'' of the KMT.
Legislator Li Sheng-feng, a New Party founder, announced his candidacy for the head of Taipei county, one of the most populous and strategic regions.
''The life of a party comes from winning elections,'' Mr Li said. ''We will contest whatever elections for which we have resources.'' Fellow legislator and convenor of the New Party Jaw Shau-kong said his political organisation catered for the middle and lower classes, as well as small businessmen.
