Ending weeks of speculation, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) announced yesterday that Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) would represent the party in Sinbei City (新北市) in November's special municipality elections.
Yesterday also saw Tsai re-elected for a second two-year stint as party chairperson.
In a statement released shortly after the results of the chairperson elections were announced, the DPP confirmed that Tsai had been chosen to run against the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) candidate, former vice premier Eric Chu (朱立倫).
PHOTO: PATRICK LIN, AFP
The press release said that in response to the incompetence of President Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) administration, the DPP had decided to nominate its strongest possible lineup.
The statement also said that DPP Secretary-General Su Jia-chyuan (蘇嘉全) had been chosen to represent the party in the Greater Taichung election.
Tsai and Su both accepted the invitation of the party's nine-person nomination team.
The statement also confirmed that former premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊) and DPP Legislator William Lai (賴清德) would represent the party in Taipei City, Greater Kaohsiung and Greater Tainan respectively.
In the chairperson election, Tsai defeated the only other candidate, former two-term Taipei County commissioner You Ching (尤清).
The party announced the result at around 8pm, with Tsai receiving 87,244 ballots, or 90.29 percent, of all votes cast, while You won 8,416 votes, or 9.71 percent.
Turnout was 58.63 percent.
Tsai released a statement thanking DPP members for their support and what she called a clear declaration of confidence in party headquarters’ policies and her leadership over the last two years.
She said the party would work harder to win the public's trust.
Speaking later, You blamed his defeat on party factions, saying their involvement in the election meant he received fewer votes than expected.
“I do not believe Tsai can do a good job as chairperson while running as the party's candidate for Sinbei City,” he said.
Earlier yesterday, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊) once again called on Tsai to enter the Sinbei race.
“People are hoping Tsai will run, so I hope she makes a decision that matches people's expectations,” Chen said.
“The five special municipality elections are significant for Taiwan's future and Tsai should take responsibility,” she said.
In addition to the chairperson election, the DPP yesterday elected local chapter directors, national representatives and city and county representatives.
Also See: KMT holds rally for Sinbei City poll
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