Taiwan's first lady yesterday sprang to the defense of Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), saying that while her outspokenness has prompted much controversy, it is unfair to label her a "troublemaker."
Wu Shu-chen (吳淑珍), accompanying her husband, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), at a press conference to publicize his new book, told reporters that she has never regretted recommending that Lu serve as Chen's running mate in the 2000 presidential election.
"As far as Lu's personality is concerned, she is used to playing more of a leading role than an auxiliary role. She must be very lonely in her support position now."
Hard worker
"But Lu is actually a hard-working person, who does pretty well on many occasions. On other occasions, however, she might have said things so inappropriate that people found them hard to accept," Wu said. "But she should not take all the blame."
In support of her recommendation, Wu said that she had always admired Lu's ability and her courage as a political dissident, adding that Chen had tapped Lu as his running mate because she outshone everybody else in her opinion poll ratings, academic background and popularity in northern Taiwan.
"I therefore hope that the president will learn to get along with an ambitious female partner and communicate well with her. I also hope that Lu can come to regard herself as the president's indispensable right-hand assistant," she said. Wu added that it would be of no use to Chen to have a vice president who had a weak character.
`Semi-president'
Chen smiled but remained silent as his wife spoke, though he has insinuated in his book that his number two has overstepped the bounds of her post, saying that she behaved like a "semi-president."
When Chen's complaints about Lu were made public, Lu denied the accusations, saying that she had studied her constitution and understood perfectly well what the bounds of her post were. Media, however, are suggesting that the long-simmering conflict between the two has erupted anew.
Having arranged to attend six campaign rallies, Lu spent the whole of yesterday stumping for DPP candidates throughout the length and breadth of the island, officially launching her nation-wide campaign tour.
In response Lu said that "women understand women the most." She also echoed the president in urging all supporters to help the DPP to become the majority party in the legislature.
On a more personal note, Wu revealed yesterday that the president, who has never had sleeping problems, has been suffering from sleeplessness due to tension related to the high pressure of his work.
She also said that the president had taken his new book very seriously, adding that he proofread it at least three times before it was published, working almost every day until 3pm.
According to Wu, the book, originally due to hit bookstores in June, was delayed by typhoons, the first daughter's marriage and the Sept. 11 attacks in the US.
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