Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday said that Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊) would be her campaign manager.
“I have reported to the Central Standing Committee that I have invited Chen to serve as my campaign manager,” Tsai said after the weekly DPP Central Standing Committee meeting. “Chen has participated in Taiwan’s democratization and played a key role in it. She has also done a great job as Kaohsiung mayor and is a role model in DPP governance.”
Tsai said Chen is an experienced politician and she looks forward to having Chen running her campaign headquarters and for the two of them to coordinate.
Photo: Peng Shao-tang, Taipei Times
Asked if the decision means that Chen would not likely be her running mate, Tsai said the two issues are not necessarily related.
“That means I do not plan on answering any more questions on the matter,” she said. “Why are you more eager than I am? When it is time, I will answer it.”
A number of DPP politicians, including former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), Tainan Mayor William Lai (賴清德), Taichung Mayor Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) and Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦) all said they support Chen’s appointment as campaign manager.
“Of course [Chen] should be the campaign manager: She enjoys a good reputation, is mayor of a special municipality, is good at negotiating and is an experienced election campaigner,” Hsieh said. “I think she is a suitable person for the role.”
Lai said Chen is an “ideal person” for the position, adding that she would not only be of great help in the presidential election, but also in the legislative elections.
Lai promised to fight “should-to-shoulder” during the campaign, while avoiding questions on Tsai’s potential running mate.
Additional reporting by Abraham Gerber
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