President Chen Shui-bian (
"Although I'd love to hand over my position on May 20, the president said that he'd prefer not to violate the party's existing system," Hsieh said.
Hsieh made the remark during a chat with the media at the party headquarters yesterday afternoon after a meeting with Chen at the Presidential Office.
According to Hsieh, Chen would prefer to take over the party chairman's position on Aug. 1 because he would like to be sworn into office the same day with the newly elected Central Standing and Central Executive committee members as well as newly appointed directors of the headquarters' departments.
The party is scheduled to elect new National Congress members on May 26 and Central Standing and Central Executive committee members on July 21 and July 22.
Currently, the Central Standing Committee has 11 members, including one seat reserved for the party chairman.
Except for the chairman, the remaining 10 members are elected from the 31-member Central Executive Committee.
Thirty of the Central Executive Committee members are elected from the Congreess except for the one seat reserved for the party chairman.
After the National Congress approved various resolutions on April 20, four more seats each will be added to the two committees. While the Central Standing Committee will grow from 11 members to 15, the Central Executive Committee will be expanded from 31 to 35.
When asked whether he is interested in assuming one of the three vice chairmen's positions, Hsieh said that he is still evaluating the possibility.
"You know it's very difficult to be elected as a Central Standing Committee member because you have to garner enough votes," he said. "Besides, I have to first obtain the approval of the citizens of Kaohsiung city."
Hsieh has to be either elected or appointed by the president as a Central Standing Committee member to be eligible for the vice chairman's post.
The party will add up to three vice chairmen to its organization. Chen has publicly announced that the party will appoint three vice chairmen, responsible for party affairs, the Cabinet and the Legislative Yuan. Premier Yu Shyi-kun reportedly has accepted the offer, while Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘), chief convener of the DPP legislative caucus, refused because "it seems weird for the head of state to boss around a legislator," he said.
Hsieh also dismissed the speculation that the party will make a second attempt to present the measure of making the secretary-general a part-time or full-time position during the July 21's National Congress meeting. It is now a full-time position.
The measure was proposed by party member Julian Kuo (
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