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DPP keeps mum on candidates

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday played down speculation that it would nominate pan-blue political figures as its legislators-at-large, saying it was too early to consider the choices of candidates before the party congress convenes on July 18.

The party recently concluded the primary for the legislators-at-large "politicians group" and will soon start selecting candidates for the "experts group." This selection will be made by the party's nomination committee, comprising the party chairman and former high-ranking party officials.

DPP Deputy Secretary General Chung Chia-pin (鍾佳濱) yesterday said the party hasn't started considering candidates yet, but the nomination procedure will aim to select those who represent "professionalism, the image of reform and diverse ethnic backgrounds."

Chung's comments yesterday came in response to reports in the Chinese-language China Times Express which stated that if the party continued its "cut-throat" strategy used in the presidential election, the newspaper said the DPP would try to solicit pan-blue professionals to demonstrate its tolerance in order to expand its support base. These professionals would appeal to swing voters who are neither pan-green camp or pan-blue camp supporters.

DPP Deputy Secretary General Lee Ying-yuan (李應元) yesterday refused to elaborate on the party's "cut-throat" strategy for the December legislative elections, but said the party must make headway to expand its fundamental support base from 40 percent to 50 percent before the elections.

Lee said except for the recent presidential election, the DPP's base of support has never exceeded 40 percent. Therefore, taking a moderate approach to appeal to neutral voters is a sound idea.

The party will nominate a total of 13 candidates for the legislators-at-large "politician group" and 18 others for the "experts group." The former has been decided by a recently-concluded primary which finalized the candidates' ranking. The latter will be nominated by the party's nomination committee after the July 18 party congress.
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