Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Yu Shyi-kun surprised no one yesterday when he announced his intention to run in the party primary for next year's presidential election.
Yu is the second of the DPP's four big guns to announce a presidential bid. Former premier Frank Hsieh (
Registration for the DPP primary will be open from March 5 to March 9. Party members will vote on presidential and legislative hopefuls on May 6, after which public opinion polls will be held. The party will announce its final candidates for the two elections on May 30.
Saying that he is the one who is "most capable of leading Taiwan forward," Yu made the announcement at a temple in his Ilan County hometown yesterday morning.
Yu said next year is important because it will be the time when the Taiwanese people have to decide whether to move forward or go backward, as the country faces a number of challenges, including globalization and China's economic rise.
At this important juncture, Yu said that the country needs a leader who "says what he means, is consistent and has a sense of propriety."
"Such a person has to stick to principles because they give the person faith and power," he said.
The next president has to insist on reform, know how to tackle the cross-strait impasse and react to internal and external crises with creative thinking, he said.
"I believe I am that person," he said.
The DPP boss said he would not rush to resolve the cross-strait issue or change his position, nor would he vacillate on issues. He described himself as the "one who upholds Taiwan's values."
When asked whether he would resign his party post to enter the primary, Yu said that although the party's election rules did not require him to do so, he would nonetheless ask for leave of absence after he begins campaigning.
He said he also needed time to think about a running mate.
Yu's announcement came after President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said on Wednesday that he had been disappointed that Yu had not yet announced his intention to run in the primary.
Yu returned to Taipei yesterday afternoon to visit former senior presidential adviser Wu Li-pei (吳澧培) and seek his support. Wu encouraged Yu to offer a clear discourse on important issues, particularly "Taiwan consciousness" and how to materialize it.
Other DPP figures seen as possible presidential aspirants were low key yesterday when asked about Yu's announcement.
Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) refused to comment, saying that she did not want to talk about the election during the Lunar New Year holiday.
She spent yesterday morning with the president, visiting temples in Keelung and paying respect to the late Keelung Mayor Hsu Tsai-li (許財利), who died last Wednesday of complications from chronic heart disease.
Meanwhile, Hsieh said that he was not surprised by Yu's decision and that it was a good thing to see many contenders in the primary.
"It shows the party has many great talents," Hsieh said. "I believe when there is competition, there is improvement."
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