Citing Robert Frost's poem, The Road Not Taken, DPP chairman Lin I-hsiung (
"I have done what I promised to do. One can criticize me if my accomplishments are not good enough. But I have already done the best I could," Lin told a news conference.
He then went on to read Frost's poem in which the writer explains that finding himself at a fork in a path, taking the fork less traveled had "made all the difference."
PHOTO: CHEN CHENG-CHANG
Lin explained that to leave his job was his version of taking "the road less traveled." While some have urged him to stay, warning that the party might suffer if he stepped down, Lin said, "it is natural to leave the leading position because my term is up."
On the eve of Lin's announcement, President Chen Shui-bian (
Lin, however, made no comment on the meeting yesterday, saying that he had clearly stated his decision to Chen. Lin also bowed to his colleagues to thank them for their support.
Concerning what he intended to do in the future, Lin said he had not thought that far ahead. He said, however, that he was willing to help the new chairman, whoever that may be, if he were needed.
Lin's decision is expected to cause vigorous competition among contenders for the party chairman position.
Possible candidates among legislators Hung Chi-chang (洪奇昌), Yen Chin-fu (顏錦福), Trong Chai (蔡同榮) and Shen Fu-hsiung (沈富雄) as well as former DPP chairman Yao Chia-wen (姚嘉文), Kaohsiung City Mayor Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) and Taipei County Commissioner Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌).
Lin declined to say which of the possible contenders he favored. He did however, say that he thought the main qualification for a successful party chairman was coordinating and finding consensus between the various party factions.
The DPP's main factions, however, indicated yesterday that President Chen's opinion would be crucial in deciding who would succeed Lin.
Among the seven contenders, three are from the newly established "Mainstream Coalition." The coalition's spokesman Shen Fu-hsiung, said however, that the group would reach a consensus on a single candidate to endorse. DPP legislators said that Trong Chai was a heavyweight candidate owing to his standing as the first-ranked Central Standing Committee member. Hung Chi-chang, however, has the support of the New Tide faction, and claims also to have the support of Lin himself. Frank Hsieh, however, has better name recognition outside the party.
According to a resolution made by the DPP's Central Standing Committee on Wednesday, candidates for the chairman post can register between May 29 and June 2 and the election will be held on June 25 by a ballot of the entire party membership.
The US government has signed defense cooperation agreements with Japan and the Philippines to boost the deterrence capabilities of countries in the first island chain, a report by the National Security Bureau (NSB) showed. The main countries on the first island chain include the two nations and Taiwan. The bureau is to present the report at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee tomorrow. The US military has deployed Typhon missile systems to Japan’s Yamaguchi Prefecture and Zambales province in the Philippines during their joint military exercises. It has also installed NMESIS anti-ship systems in Japan’s Okinawa
‘WIN-WIN’: The Philippines, and central and eastern European countries are important potential drone cooperation partners, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung said Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) in an interview published yesterday confirmed that there are joint ventures between Taiwan and Poland in the drone industry. Lin made the remark in an exclusive interview with the Chinese-language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister paper). The government-backed Taiwan Excellence Drone International Business Opportunities Alliance and the Polish Chamber of Unmanned Systems on Wednesday last week signed a memorandum of understanding in Poland to develop a “non-China” supply chain for drones and work together on key technologies. Asked if Taiwan prioritized Poland among central and eastern European countries in drone collaboration, Lin
BACK TO WORK? Prosecutors said they are considering filing an appeal, while the Hsinchu City Government said it has applied for Ann Kao’s reinstatement as mayor The High Court yesterday found suspended Hsinchu mayor Ann Kao (高虹安) not guilty of embezzling assistant fees, reducing her sentence to six months in prison commutable to a fine from seven years and four months. The verdict acquitted Kao of the corruption charge, but found her guilty of causing a public official to commit document forgery. The High Prosecutors’ Office said it is reviewing the ruling and considering whether to file an appeal. The Taipei District Court in July last year sentenced Kao to seven years and four months in prison, along with a four-year deprivation of civil rights, for contravening the Anti-Corruption
NO CONFIDENCE MOTION? The premier said that being toppled by the legislature for defending the Constitution would be a democratic badge of honor for him Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) yesterday announced that the Cabinet would not countersign the amendments to the local revenue-sharing law passed by the Legislative Yuan last month. Cho said the decision not to countersign the amendments to the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures (財政收支劃分法) was made in accordance with the Constitution. “The decision aims to safeguard our Constitution,” he said. The Constitution stipulates the president shall, in accordance with law, promulgate laws and issue mandates with the countersignature of the head of the Executive Yuan, or with the countersignatures of both the head of the Executive Yuan and ministers or
RSS