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進入《TAIPEI TIMES》 DPP aims to elect a new chairperson next month: official
Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai speaks at the Democratic Progressive Party headquarters in Taipei yesterday. Photo: CNA
By Kayleigh Madjar / Staff writer, with CNA
The Democratic Progressive Party （DPP） aims to elect a new chairperson by the middle of next month, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai （陳其邁） said yesterday.
The DPP Central Standing Committee yesterday chose Chen as its interim chairman until a new leader is chosen, although he said he had no intention of entering the race himself.
President Tsai Ing-wen （蔡英文） stepped down as DPP chairperson on Saturday following bruising defeats in the nine-in-one local elections earlier that day.
After yesterday’s meeting, Chen told reporters that his first task would be to “humbly face the election defeats and conduct a thorough investigation.”
Checks and balances are the norm in Taiwan’s mature democracy, taking the form of opposition parties, he said, adding that voting is the greatest check on parties and politicians.
There are many reasons for the losses, which must be faced with humility and honesty, he said.
Chen said his second task would be campaigning for the Chiayi mayoral election and a legislative by-election in Taipei.
As the Chinese Nationalist Party’s （KMT） Chiang Wan-an （蔣萬安） resigned as a legislator to focus on his successful campaign for Taipei mayor, there is to be a by-election in Taipei’s third electoral district next month to choose his replacement.
DPP Taipei City Councilor Ruan Jhao-syong （阮昭雄） and Forward Alliance founder Enoch Wu （吳怡農） had expressed interest in the race.
Ruan later yesterday wrote on Facebook that Chen had called him to say that the party had chosen Wu, who has run for the district previously.
Ruan added that he trusts Wu and would help wherever needed.
Wu said it is a big responsibility and vowed to do everything in his power to win the support of constituents.
Candidate registration ends tomorrow and the by-election is scheduled for Jan. 8.
Chen said his third and most important task as interim leader is the chairperson election, which he hopes to complete by the middle of next month.
The DPP must play a unifying role through party reform and in the 2024 general election to win back the trust of Taiwanese, he said.
Top party members are planning to travel to Chiayi next week in a show of unity to support its mayoral candidate in the city, former legislator Lee Chun-yi （李俊俋）, the committee said.
新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES
