Minister of justice rejects calls to join mayoral race

Secretary-General to the President Chen Shih-meng (陳師孟) indicated yesterday that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) thinks Minister of Justice Chen Ding-nan (陳定南) is a "fine" and "ideal" candidate for the year-end Taipei City mayoral election.

But responding to Chen Shih-meng's suggestion, Chen Ding-nan yesterday told reporters that he has no intention of running in the mayoral race.

The question of just who will represent the DPP and take on Taipei City Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) took on added significance after Chen Shih-meng revealed the president's preferred choice.

"President Chen once said that Minister Chen Ding-nan is a very good candidate for the DPP," the secretary-general said.

According to Chen Shih-meng, the president said that the DPP should select its candidate based on the person's previous experience and credentials. And Chen Ding-nan, with eight years under his belt serving as county commissioner for Ilan, is one of the few people within the DPP who meets the requirement.

But the secretary-general also stressed that, even though the president regards the justice minister as a strong potential candidate, the president has yet to make the final decision.

Chen Shih-meng hinted that President Chen will formally announce his choice after the DPP's extraordinary national congress on Saturday, which will pass the party's reform proposals, including moves to have the president serve as party chairman.

DPP lawmaker and member of the party's Central Standing Committee Kao Chih-pong (高志鵬) said that most party members appreciate Minister Chen's performance in his justice position, while believing that Mayor Ma has recently made many mistakes.

He suggested that as much as Mayor Ma may have a strong appeal among female voters, Minister Chen could still attract female voters by choosing a woman as the deputy mayor.

But while Chen Ding-nan is viewed as Ma's most formidable competitor and has the president's support, the justice minister has shown little interest in running in the election. He has repeatedly said that he has no interest on the grounds that it might have an adverse impact on the health of his wife, who suffered a stroke four years ago.

Chen Ding-nan said yesterday in a press conference that he had two reasons for not wanting to join the campaign.

"I must say again that I don't have any desire to do so. I think that this `desire' is important for a person when deciding whether he wants to devote himself to the campaign," he said.

"Also, my wife, who suffered a stroke four years ago, did not want to see me doing it [campaigning]. These are my biggest concerns."

Chen Ding-nan said that his wife has been slowly recovering from the stroke but still suffers from high blood pressure and the occasional seizure.

"She did not want me to run in any campaign," he said. "I do not want to make her worry."