The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday announced that party members will elect a new chairman on Jan. 30, and that those who plan to contend for the chairmanship will have to pay NT$1.5 million as a registration fee.
President Chen Shui-bian (
DPP legislative caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (
After nearly three hours' discussion, the DPP central executive committee yesterday reached a conclusion about the necessary qualifications of the candidates who want to campaign for the chairman's post.
According to DPP Deputy Secretary-General Lee Ying-yuan (
The committee overruled the suggestion that candidates should have to collect a certain number of signatures from party delegates.
"The DPP aimed to set less restrictions on candidates in order to obtain maximum participation in the election for chairmanship," Lee said yesterday.
The DPP today will publish the registration date, election date and candidates' requirements. Those who want to join the campaign have to register between Dec. 27 and Dec. 31.
The committee will review the candidates' qualifications on Jan. 4 and eligible candidates will draw their candidate number on Jan. 5.
The DPP will announce its new chairman on Feb. 1.
Before polling day, the DPP will hold two televised debates, on Jan. 22 in Taipei and Jan. 29 in Kaohsiung. A civic forum for academics, political commentators and the public will be held in Taichung on Jan. 26, Lee said.
So far, only DPP Legislator Lin Chung-mo (
"I believe that I will do a good job in leading the party," Lin said after the central executive committee meeting, confirming that he would compete for the chairmanship despite the registration fee.
Chou did not comment on the registration fee issue, only saying that she would consider participating in the race.
Meanwhile, the central executive committee decided to establish a special panel to study the party's future development, hoping to find a new direction for the DPP now that Chen has resigned as chairman.
When asked about the nomination of Control Yuan members, Lee said that the DPP had not considered using party discipline to force DPP legislators to support the nominations at this point, although some DPP legislators voiced criticism about some of the nominations.
"The DPP ... will first communicate and negotiate with those who opposed [the nominations]. We haven't thought about party discipline," Lee said.
Three batches of banana sauce imported from the Philippines were intercepted at the border after they were found to contain the banned industrial dye Orange G, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said yesterday. From today through Sept. 2 next year, all seasoning sauces from the Philippines are to be subject to the FDA’s strictest border inspection, meaning 100 percent testing for illegal dyes before entry is allowed, it said in a statement. Orange G is an industrial coloring agent that is not permitted for food use in Taiwan or internationally, said Cheng Wei-chih (鄭維智), head of the FDA’s Northern Center for
LOOKING NORTH: The base would enhance the military’s awareness of activities in the Bashi Channel, which China Coast Guard ships have been frequenting, an expert said The Philippine Navy on Thursday last week inaugurated a forward operating base in the country’s northern most province of Batanes, which at 185km from Taiwan would be strategically important in a military conflict in the Taiwan Strait. The Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted Northern Luzon Command Commander Lieutenant General Fernyl Buca as saying that the base in Mahatao would bolster the country’s northern defenses and response capabilities. The base is also a response to the “irregular presence this month of armed” of China Coast Guard vessels frequenting the Bashi Channel in the Luzon Strait just south of Taiwan, the paper reported, citing a
A total lunar eclipse, an astronomical event often referred to as a “blood moon,” would be visible to sky watchers in Taiwan starting just before midnight on Sunday night, the Taipei Astronomical Museum said. The phenomenon is also called “blood moon” due to the reddish-orange hue it takes on as the Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, completely blocking direct sunlight from reaching the lunar surface. The only light is refracted by the Earth’s atmosphere, and its red wavelengths are bent toward the moon, illuminating it in a dramatic crimson light. Describing the event as the most important astronomical phenomenon
UNDER PRESSURE: The report cited numerous events that have happened this year to show increased coercion from China, such as military drills and legal threats The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aims to reinforce its “one China” principle and the idea that Taiwan belongs to the People’s Republic of China by hosting celebratory events this year for the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the “retrocession” of Taiwan and the establishment of the UN, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said in its latest report to the Legislative Yuan. Taking advantage of the significant anniversaries, Chinese officials are attempting to assert China’s sovereignty over Taiwan through interviews with international news media and cross-strait exchange events, the report said. Beijing intends to reinforce its “one China” principle
RSS