TSU says year-end elections crucial to the party's survival

The Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) will not be absent from the various local government elections slated for the end of this year, TSU Secretary-General Chen Chien-ming (陳建銘) said yesterday.

Chen said that his party has decided in principle to nominate incumbent or former legislators as TSU candidates to run in the mayoral and county magistrate elections to be held in December. A total of 23 city and county government heads will be elected in the polls.

The party will coordinate with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on the nomination of candidates for the elections, Chen promised, adding that the TSU would certainly be participating in the elections.

Liu Yi-teh (劉一德), director of the TSU's Organization Department, said that participating in the elections is crucial for the party's survival.

The DPP, which together with the TSU forms the so-called "pan green camp," should give its political ally a chance in some constituencies, he said.

The TSU Chairman, Shu Chin-chiang (蘇進強), has engaged in a fact-finding tour around the nation since Jan. 10 when he assumed the party's helm.

Shu's move is widely seen as part of efforts to consolidate the support of the party's grassroots in preparation for the year-end elections. The TSU is the fourth-largest party in the Legislative Yuan.