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Su in favor of Chen as DPP chairman

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) vice presidential candidate Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) voiced his support yesterday for President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) to assume the party chairmanship after Chairman Yu Shyi-kun's resignation.

The call came after Yu offered to resign following his indictment -- along with Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) and National Security Council Secretary-General Mark Chen (陳唐山) -- on charges of corruption and forgery on Friday over his special allowance fund.

Yu was charged with claiming reimbursements worth NT$2.3 million (US$70,000) with 516 fraudulent receipts collected by his wife, Yang Pao-yu (楊寶玉), from his special allowance fund between October 2000 and December 2005. During that period, Yu served as secretary-general of the presidential office and premier.

"It is true that the party would be stronger and better integrated in terms of campaign strategy if the president were the chairman," Su told reporters yesterday morning as he returned from St. Lucia, where he served as Chen's envoy.

DOUBLE

The DPP caucus on Saturday urged Chen to consider doubling as DPP chairman.

Yu, who was campaigning for the party in Toronto at the time, faxed his intended resignation late on Friday night, but added on Saturday that he would not leave his post until after the party's 21st anniversary and national congress, scheduled for Sunday.

Yu had said on Monday he would like to fulfill his responsibilities and oversee the holding of the two major events.

CRITICISM

This, however, drew criticism and speculation from DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh's (謝長廷) camp, which suspected Yu may have postponed his resignation until after the party congress to ensure that his amendment stipulating "Taiwan" as the national title appears in the party's final "normal country" resolution.

Hsieh's camp has questioned the timing of the passing of the draft, fearing it could scare off voters.

Yu had begun seeking endorsement for a proposed amendment to a draft of the resolution passed by the DPP Central Executive Committee on Aug. 30, which only stated the party should correct the nation's name and write a new constitution as soon as possible.

Su yesterday cautioned Yu, saying that he should not be obstinate on the matter.

"Seeking normalization of the country and of the governmental system is the right approach, but this approach should be discussed through a democratic, collegiate system within the party rather than decided by an individual," he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Presidential Office Secretary-General Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) declined to comment on a meeting between Chen Shui-bian and Yu at the Presidential office yesterday, saying it was a private matter between the two.

Yu, who entered the Presidential Office at approximately 10am, told reporters after the meeting that he and Chen had talked about the party's "normal country resolution" but had not discussed his resignation.

In addition to the resolution, Yu said they had talked about campaigning affairs concerning next year's legislative and presidential elections.
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