Two Cabinet members yesterday announced plans to resign from their current posts to run in the upcoming legislative elections, saying they hoped their participation in the race would help break Taiwan's current political stalemate.
Vice Chairman of the Council for Cultural Affairs Luo Wen-chia (
PHOTO: CHU YO-PIN, TAIPEI TIMES
Luo plans to run in Taipei City, whereas You intends to campaign in Hualien County.
"It will be a new beginning for me to join the race, and I know it will be tough. But I look forward to making a little change to the political atmosphere of the country, elevating the quality of the legislation and bringing new ideas to the legislature," said Luo, an expert in campaign publicity for President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) for almost a decade.
Some politicians, however, saw the move as a sign the DPP was in crisis, and that the two deputy leaders had felt trapped in positions where their abilities could not be brought into full play.
"It is rather unusual for executives to quit to join the campaign race. I think the DPP is facing some ruling difficulties because, after all, these DPP officials are more adept at election strategies, than administrating," PFP lawmaker Diane Lee (李慶安) told the Taipei Times.
"In addition, the two used to be rather active when the DPP was the opposition. But they've barely been heard since the DPP took power, and their performances in their present positions have hardly drawn any attention."
You said the DPP had so far been an ineffectual ruling party because of its disadvantageous position in the Legislative Yuan.
"Today's political deadlock stems from the DPP's minority status in the legislature, which has crippled the implementation of the governmental policies," said You, adding that he hoped that joining the legislature would help strengthen the DPP.
Director of the DPP's department of organizational development Liu I-te (
"It is kind of a waste for officials to run for elections ? I assume they have found themselves being placed in a difficult situation because they have not gained as much attention as they used to," Liu said.
Analysts, however, put a more positive spin on the move.
"I agree with You that running in the election is meant to help break the political impasse," said Wang Yeh-li (
"In accordance with our Constitutional system, the significance of the legislative branch will be increased gradually. If the ruling party does not enjoy a dominant position in the legislature, it will make policy execution almost impossible? I think the DPP's resolution to secure more seats at the legislature is definitely a good strategy."
CALL FOR SUPPORT: President William Lai called on lawmakers across party lines to ensure the livelihood of Taiwanese and that national security is protected President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday called for bipartisan support for Taiwan’s investment in self-defense capabilities at the christening and launch of two coast guard vessels at CSBC Corp, Taiwan’s (台灣國際造船) shipyard in Kaohsiung. The Taipei (台北) is the fourth and final ship of the Chiayi-class offshore patrol vessels, and the Siraya (西拉雅) is the Coast Guard Administration’s (CGA) first-ever ocean patrol vessel, the government said. The Taipei is the fourth and final ship of the Chiayi-class offshore patrol vessels with a displacement of about 4,000 tonnes, Lai said. This ship class was ordered as a result of former president Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) 2018
‘SECRETS’: While saying China would not attack during his presidency, Donald Trump declined to say how Washington would respond if Beijing were to take military action US President Donald Trump said that China would not take military action against Taiwan while he is president, as the Chinese leaders “know the consequences.” Trump made the statement during an interview on CBS’ 60 Minutes program that aired on Sunday, a few days after his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) in South Korea. “He [Xi] has openly said, and his people have openly said at meetings, ‘we would never do anything while President Trump is president,’ because they know the consequences,” Trump said in the interview. However, he repeatedly declined to say exactly how Washington would respond in
WARFARE: All sectors of society should recognize, unite, and collectively resist and condemn Beijing’s cross-border suppression, MAC Minister Chiu Chui-cheng said The number of Taiwanese detained because of legal affairs by Chinese authorities has tripled this year, as Beijing intensified its intimidation and division of Taiwanese by combining lawfare and cognitive warfare, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday. MAC Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) made the statement in response to questions by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Puma Shen (沈柏洋) about the government’s response to counter Chinese public opinion warfare, lawfare and psychological warfare. Shen said he is also being investigated by China for promoting “Taiwanese independence.” He was referring to a report published on Tuesday last week by China’s state-run Xinhua news agency,
‘ADDITIONAL CONDITION’: Taiwan will work with like-minded countries to protect its right to participate in next year’s meeting, the foreign ministry said The US will “continue to press China for security arrangements and protocols that safeguard all participants when attending APEC meetings in China,” a US Department of State spokesperson said yesterday, after Beijing suggested that members must adhere to its “one China principle” to participate. “The United States insists on the full and equal participation of all APEC member economies — including Taiwan — consistent with APEC’s guidelines, rules and established practice, as affirmed by China in its offer to host in 2026,” the unnamed spokesperson said in response to media queries about China putting a “one China” principle condition on Taiwan’s
RSS