Presidential Office Secretary-General Su Tseng-chang (
The party will hold an election to choose its new chairman at the end of January.
The party's administration notified the media that Su will convene a press conference in the company of both acting chairman Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) and party secretary general Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) after completing the registration. Political observers see Su as the most likely candidate to win the election.
To bring an end to the party's internal power struggles, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday afternoon held discussions with senior party members, including Chang, Premier Yu Shyi-kun, and Kaohsiung City Mayor Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), and decided to have Su contend for the chairmanship.
Chang had earlier been considered for the post. The possibility was ruled out after he was chosen to run for the post of legislative speaker for DPP in next session of the Legislative Yuan.
Observers said if Su takes the post of chairman, it will be the beginning of a race between Su and Hsieh to become the party's candidate for the 2008 presidential election.
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