Most DPP members want president to double as chairman

It is the consensus of most DPP members that the head of state should double up as the party chairman and that the party continue to push for party reforms and "internalization," DPP faction leaders said yesterday.

"Although we've heard different opinions within the party, it's the consensus of most party members that the president should lead the party and that the party should continue its reforms," DPP Chairman Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) told the press conference held at the DPP headquarters yesterday morning.

The idea to let the head of state serve concurrently as the party chairman is one of the party reform measures proposed by Hsieh.

Hsieh introduced the draft proposal to the public yesterday and asked faction leaders to endorse the measures.

Hsieh that he has garnered 200 signatures from party members who support the draft proposal.

In order to present the proposal to the party's April 20 extraordinary national assembly meeting for further review and final approval, Hsieh has to obtain the endorsement of at least 20 party members.

To have the proposal passed at the national meeting, two thirds of the 386 assembly members are needed to vote in favor of the proposal.

In addition to Hsieh's proposal, there are four different proposals that are expected to be presented to the party's national meeting for further review.

Under Hsieh's proposal, the head of state would lead the party while it is in power, and party members would directly elect the chairman when it is in the opposition.

He also proposed adding between one and three vice chairmen to the party's organization. The DPP currently does not have such a post.

To widen the functions of committees, he proposed 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 national meeting, the Central Standing Committee will have a total of 15 members while the Central Executive Committee will have 35.

DPP Chang Chun-hung (張俊宏), who had originally announced his candidacy for the chairmanship, said yesterday that he has dropped the idea of running for the chairman and decided to support Hsieh's proposal.

"The most important and immediate thing facing the party right now is how to transform itself from an opposition party to a ruling one," he said.

DPP caucus chief convenor DPP Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) agreed.

"It's time for the party to reposition itself and shoulder the historic responsibility we received when we came to power in 2000," he said.