The DPP's Hsinchu City chapter appealed to the party's headquarters yesterday to prevent Hsinchu Mayor Tsai Jen-chien (
"A verdict has not even been made by the court in Tsai's case. Besides, it is not within the local chapter's authority to get involved in the mayoral election," Hsu Yang-ming (許陽明), party deputy secretary-general, said at a press conference yesterday.
PHOTO: CHEN CHENG-CHANG, TAIPEI TIMES
Hsu added that the party's Central Standing Committee would send a letter admonishing the Hsinchu chapter for stepping out of bounds.
Tsai was charged on Saturday for forcing United Microelectronics Corp (
Prosecutors are seeking a two-and-a-half year sentence for Tsai.
"The indictment against Tsai has damaged the party's reputation," argued Yang Lung-yuan (楊隆源), director of the DPP's Hsinchu chapter, who endorsed yesterday's appeal along with six other members.
"We urge the central party headquarters to review Tsai's qualifications for participating in the party's primary," said Yang.
But Yang added that it was up to the party's central review committee to decide whether Tsai should have his party membership suspended, be expelled or be given an oral warning.
Yang also said that the central headquarters had the option to sit back and do nothing until the outcome of Tsai's case was determined.
Tsai, in response to the appeal, expressed his regret over the matter but refused to comment further.
Hsinchu Deputy Mayor Lin Cheng-chieh (
Other DPP officials said the move was meant to "embarrass Tsai."
Meanwhile, the DPP's Justice Alliance faction (
Chen, accompanied by faction leaders Yu Cheng-hsien (
Yu and Kao believe that Chen's fame will help him win office and help the party win votes from Aboriginal groups.
"Even if Chen is called up to run as the party's candidate, it will still be a tough battle," Hsieh told Chen yesterday morning. The DPP has long had a low support rate among Aboriginal groups.
"I will do my best," Chen responded.
"Chen's nomination would become possible if no one is interested in registering [during the primary] since our party will have only one nominee," Liu I-te (劉一德) said. Liu added there was a great possibility that this would happen but it was still too early to tell.
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