The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday held a campaign rally to introduce its female nominees for legislator-at-large positions.
Chanting the slogan "women [candidates] account for half of the nominations and we hope the DPP will win over 50 percent of seats in the legislature," five of the party's female nominees for legislator-at-large stood together and declared their resolution to join the next legislature.
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
The five pledged to create a new voice and viewpoint in the legislature, long seen as a being dominated by men.
"The DPP is the party that cares most about women's political participation in Taiwan," DPP Secretary-General Chang Chun-hsiung (
"Our impressive slate of legislator-at-large nominees meets the DPP's promise to women and shows our resolve to maintain a democratic and progressive outlook," Chang said.
Although the DPP is only 18 years old, it is the political party that shows most respect for women, Chang said.
A DPP party clause requires at least one-fourth of its candidates in all local elections be filled by women, he added.
The party also enabled Taiwan to have its first woman vice president and a woman vice premier, he said.
"Hopefully, our excellent female candidates will win more recognition and support from women voters and help the pan-green camp win a majority in the Legislative Yuan," Chang said.
In addition to the former chairwoman of the Mainland Affairs Council Tsai Ing-wen (
Tsai declined to attend yesterday's rally as she did not want to take attention away from the other nominees, according Ho Chia-ling (
Meanwhile, Chang responded to reports that the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) had nominated Olympic taekwondo silver medalist Huang Chih-hsiung (
"We think that the Olympic heroes are great national assets belonging to all the people of Taiwan, not a certain party. And we don't want to taint them with political color," Chang said.
"I think to not nominate these athletes is to show real respect for them," he said.
Chang also denied that the DPP has been in contact with Chen Shih-hsin (陳詩欣) and Chu Mu-yen (朱木炎), gold medalists in taekwondo at the Athens Olympics, to persuade them to join the DPP.
The DPP will help them to achieve success but will not take advantage of their fame, he said.
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