Ma's opponent remains a mystery

All eyes now on DPP while it decides who will take on new KMT leader in 2008 election

With the election of Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou as head of the main opposition KMT, analysts are now speculating on who his main rival will be in the 2008 presidential race.

As the new leader, Mr Ma will almost certainly represent his party in the election, although President Chen Shui-bian will not be eligible to stand again for the Democratic Progressive Party because he will have already served the two terms allowed in Taiwan's constitution.

The DPP has yet to indicate who will represent the independence-leaning party. Political observers say Premier Frank Hsieh Chang-ting and DPP chairman Su Tseng-chang are the two most likely candidates. But the final decision will be made by Mr Chen.

So far Mr Chen has made no indication of his favoured successor. Local media reports said he never lets anyone know what he really thinks, especially on the issue of his successor.

His close aides say Mr Chen has adopted a balancing strategy in dealing with the two.

He gave Mr Hsieh the necessary time to stand firm in the cabinet after making him premier, and backed him when he proposed reconciliation with the mainland and opposition parties. Then he applauded Mr Su when the DPP won the National Assembly election in May.

But he also criticised Mr Hsieh for his sluggish approach to improving social order, reforming the national health insurance system and carrying out taxation reform - three major goals he wanted to attain before his term ends.

And he was not lenient on Mr Su during the National Assembly election, attacking him for campaign tactics that forced Mr Chen himself to enter the fray by giving television interviews to solicit votes from DPP supporters, according to Taiwanese media reports.

'Obviously, at the moment, Chen Shui-bian has no intention of announcing who will be his successor, to avoid becoming a lame duck too early,' said Chang Ling-cheng, professor of political science at National Taiwan University.

She said Mr Chen hoped to leave a legacy to the island before he stepped down.

Another contender could be the presidential secretary-general, You Shyi-kun, despite media reports.

When Mr Chen switched Mr You from premier to his current role, moving Mr Hsieh - the former mayor of Kaohsiung - into the cabinet, some thought it marked the end of Mr You's presidential hopes.

But recently he has been engaged by Mr Chen to help the party campaign in the year-end local magistrate and mayoral elections.

At the same time, Mr Chen has also asked him to be in charge of co-ordinating various government authorities and political parties as they carry out second-stage constitutional reform before 2008.

The new duties mean Mr You has regained his place on the political stage, which would be a big plus for his presidential bid, observers say.

Although Vice-President Annette Lu Hsiu-lien was said by some analysts to be also eyeing the presidency, her chances of actually running are relatively low compared with the other three.

Yesterday's KMT votes also saw the election of 1,105 party representatives. Among the winners were Lien Sheng-wen, son of outgoing chairman Lien Chan, and Ma Yi-nan, sister of new party chairman Ma Ying-jeou.

Analysts generally look for potential rising stars among the representatives, whose main responsibilities are to elect central committee members