Tsai said that he does not feel at all despondent about leaving the post because he said there is much talent in the party.
"I feel great because I'll have more time for myself, my family and my electorate," he said. "I'll also have time to push several bills which have been brewing in my mind for quite some time."
Tsai said he is particularly interested in proposing a mudslide prevention bill and a bill on oral hygiene.
Humble beginnings
Tsai was born into a poor tenant farmer's family of nine in Puli, Nantou County. He graduated from a two-year college that was previously affiliated with National Chengchi University and is now affiliated with the National Open University.
"I remember my parents couldn't afford to buy us shoes until I was in the third grade, and our satchels were made from the bags that US-donated flour came in," he said.
Poverty did not defeat Tsai but instead made him realize the importance of hard work and modesty.
The life of the 42-year-old farmer's son took a dramatic turn in 1979 when a state crackdown followed an anti-government parade organized by the Formosa magazine in Kaohsiung.
The ruling KMT jailed eight people for their involvement in what later became known as the Kaohsiung Incident (
"What the government did to those people just made me feel sick in my stomach and detest the KMT regime even more," he said.
After completing his military service, Tsai began to participate in democratic movements and became a DPP member when the party was legalized in 1986.
He started his political career in 1984 as a township representative in his hometown.
In the 18 years following, he has assumed positions ranging from a township arbitrator to lawmaker.
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