Caucus-leader elections ignite flurry of activity

Though the legislative session has not yet ended, senior DPP lawmakers have thrown themselves into the race for the party-caucus leadership elections due to be held before the beginning of next term.

"In order to win one of the three caucus-leaders posts, the candidates need to enjoy high media exposure to help create a public agenda for promoting themselves," said DPP lawmaker Hong Chi-chang (洪奇昌).

Hong said that the DPP's legislative caucus leaders were selected under a negotiation mechanism created by all party factions, but President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has decided to establish a "seniority system" since the DPP had become the biggest party after the 2001 legislative elections.

"Therefore, party leaders agreed to allow all lawmakers to directly elect the caucus leaders, giving senior members more of an opportunity to win the post and then to shoulder more responsibility," he added.

However, increased political power always brings increased conflicts, he said, since the caucus leader posts are becoming more important and party members are spending more effort to get it.

The DPP's caucus whips serve only one year at a time and political maneuvers are rife in the DPP's major factions in the run up to the elections.

Up for grabs are the posts of chief convener, chief executive and secretary general.

Opinions from the Presidential Office will be the last determining factor in the nominations this time because the whips will play an important role in Chen's re-election bid in 2004.

Legislator Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁), who lost his bid last year, is trying to gain support from the party's Justice Alliance faction, the report said. The Welfare State faction may field Chiu Chuei-chen (邱垂貞), while Justice Alliance member Shen Fu-hsiung (沈富雄) has also shown interest in running for the posts.

Current chief convener Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) and secretary general Hsu Jung-shu (許榮淑) are also seeking re-election.

The New Tide faction appeared to support Shen during a recent faction meeting, but stressed that it was no final decision, saying it will wait until the Presidential Office's attitude becomes clear.

"The New Tide faction will never take any position opposing the president," Shen was quoted as saying.

The DPP caucus currently has 88 members and a candidate needs 23 votes to become party whip.

With 27 members, the Justice Alliance stands the best chance of taking one of the three positions if it can consolidate the votes, the report said.

The New Tide faction and its allies can control a combined 20 votes, while the Welfare State faction has 13 members. The other 28 either belong to three smaller factions or are independents.