Taiwan Solidarity Union announces temporary chairman

With last week's resignations of their chairman and secretary-general behind them, Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) officials yesterday said caucus whip Huang Chung-yuan (黃宗源) will serve as acting chairman until a new chairman is selected by rank-and-file members by February.

The TSU's central executive committee yesterday decided that Huang would stand in for former chairman Huang Chu-wen (黃主文), who resigned yesterday.

TSU Legislator Chen Chien-ming (陳建銘), who failed in his bid for re-election in Taipei City, will take over as TSU secretary-general from Lin Chih-chia (林志嘉), who also resigned because of the election setback.

"I feel as if I have been relieved of a heavy load now that I am no longer TSU chairman," Huang Chu-wen said yesterday. "Whether I'm chairman or not, all the TSU members are my brothers."

Huang added that the TSU would maintain its line on changing the country's official title, making a new constitution and assisting the government in fortifying national identity.

Nominations for party chairman may be lodged from today until Friday.

Central standing committee rules say that eligible candidates include those who have been party members for two years and who have served as ministerial officials, county commissioners, mayors or legislators.

TSU members who are recommended by at least one-third of the central executive committee or one-fifth of party members can also run as candidates.

TSU sources said Su Chin-chiang (蘇進強), secretary-general of the National Cultural Association and a former National Security Council advisor, is the most likely person to become the new chairman.