The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative caucus yesterday elected caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) to be the candidate to run for the legislative speakership.
The caucus further authorized Ker to find a candidate to run for the Deputy Speaker's post.
PHOTO: YEH CHI-MING, TAIPEI TIMES
But Ker said that the ticket for the speaker's race could be formed in any way, including allowing a candidate from another caucus to run for the speakership, while he ran for the deputy speakership instead.
Ker won the candidacy in yesterday's caucus meeting after the caucus held an election to decide on a candidate. Ker and veteran DPP Legislator Trong Chai (
The caucus also passed a resolution to allow Ker to find his own partner for the Deputy Speaker's office.
After the election, Ker held a press conference, accompanied by DPP Secretary-General Chang Chun-hsiung (
"The caucus resolved to allow the speaker candidate to make his own decision regarding the deputy speakership candidate, so that space for collaboration with other caucuses can be created," DPP Legislator Hong Chi-chang (
Chang stressed that the president respected the caucus' right to elect its own candidate, and the president was looking forward to "cross-party reconciliation and collaboration" after the speaker election.
"President Chen respects the caucus' autonomy, and he hopes the negative campaigning in the legislative speaker election can be kept to a minimum," Chang said.
"He is also looking forward to cross-party reconciliation and collaboration after the election," Chang said.
Chang said that the DPP would try its best to secure support from other lawmakers and ensure it could win the election.
Ker, instead of showing excitement, said that he was not happy at all, because this was "an impossible battle."
"My representing the DPP caucus in the speaker election means the beginning of responsibility for me, and I am not running for the office out of personal interests. I am shouldering the responsibility and pursuing our existing ideals," Ker said.
"This is a party-to-party battle, and the DPP hopes to create a watershed in the Legislative Yuan through the speaker election, and improve Taiwanese politics," Ker said.
Ker pointed out that a major change in the Legislative Yuan was necessary because over the past three years, several bills regarding judicial reform, financial reform, and government restructuring failed to be approved by the legislature due to fighting between the governing party and the opposition parties.
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