After initiating a controversial motion that the president lead the party, DPP Chairman Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday proposed to add between one and three vice chairmen to the party's organization.
The DPP currently does not have such a post.
In order to present the proposal to the April 20 extraordinary national meeting for further review and final approval, Hsieh has to obtain the endorsement of at least 20 party members.
Addressing the media after the party's weekly closed-door Central Standing Committee meeting yesterday afternoon, Hsieh said that he is optimistic about the motion.
"In addition to gathering 20 signatures, I'm confident that the proposal will receive final approval at the extraordinary national meeting," he said.
Hsieh proposed that candidates for the vice chairmen positions would have to be nominated by the party chairman from the Central Standing Committee members and be approved by the Central Executive Committee.
Vice chairmen would be eligible for substituting for the chairman when the chairman is unable to continue his or her two-year term and when the remaining tenure is less than six months.
When the remaining tenure is more than six months long, Hsieh proposed that party members elect a new party chairman to complete the term.
Hsieh also proposed that when the party is in power, the chief convener of the party's legislative caucus should assume one of the four proposed additional Central Standing Committee posts, while the remaining three would be designated by the president.
When the party is in the opposition, the party's three legislative leaders would assume three of the four proposed additional Central Executive Committee posts, while the remaining one seat would be reserved for either a city mayor or county commissioner.
The same practice would apply to the production of the proposed four additional Central Executive Committee members.
Facing the predicament of choosing a suitable new party chairman, Hsieh proposed on March 5 that the head of state lead the party when it is in power, and that party members directly elect the party chairman when it is in the opposition.
Pushing the party's reform and internalization a step forward, Hsieh proposed on March 12 that public servants assume half of the Central Standing and Central Executive committee seats and that the two committees add four more seats each to their current rosters.
The Central Standing Committee currently has 11 members while the Central Executive Committee has 31.
If the proposal is approved in the April 20 extraordinary national meeting, the Central Standing Committee will have a total of 15 members while the Central Executive Committee will have 35.
In addition, public servants -- including lawmakers, city councilors, city mayors and county commissioners -- will assume half of the seats of the two committees, which serve as the party's policy-making units.
Since Hsieh proposed to have the head of state lead the party, party members have expressed divided views.
DPP lawmaker Chou Po-lun (周伯倫) yesterday told the press conference that he opposes to the idea and that Hsieh should continue to run for the chairmanship.
"I agree that the party desperately needs reform but it doesn't necessarily mean that I support the idea of having the head of state lead the party," he said.
"One of the most important tasks facing the party is how to win the next presidential election, and I don't think it's to the president's or the party's advantage to have the head of state lead the party."
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