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Luo's call for a `new DPP movement' strikes a nerve

Facing a succession of denunciations from colleagues over suggestions for internal party reform, a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) heavyweight yesterday went on the offensive against his critics and defended his "new DPP movement."

Taipei County commissioner candidate Luo Wen-jia (羅文嘉) said that recent negative news and mishandling of problems have already affected the DPP's outlook in the year-end elections, adding that it was high time to retrieve voters' faith in the party.

OLD-TIME SPIRIT

On the eve of the DPP's national convention, which was supposed to be held yesterday, but was delayed because of Typhoon Longwang, Luo and former legislator Tuan Yi-kang (段宜康), who is also the convener of the DPP's largest faction -- the New Tide Faction (新潮流) -- on Saturday proposed launching a "new DPP movement" to reignite the party's founding spirit and passion, which they said seems to have worn down since the DPP came to power.

Although Luo and Tuan's proposal gained support from some young lawmakers and reform advocates, DPP legislators Lin Chung-mo (林重謨) and Lee Chun-yee (李俊毅) criticized the movement, saying it was aimed to boost Luo's campaign momentum and edge out the older generation of the DPP.

"Lo wants to advertise himself as a new and young political idol who has ideals and ability to reform, and smears others As being anti-reform," Lin said.

In response to these accusations, Luo did not seem frustrated, saying "I'm not worried about how people talked about me. Instead, I'm only worried that people won't talk about my idea."

"Besides, I don't think it would do me any good if the DPP is not in shape," he added.

Luo said that his motive for launching the "new DPP movement" derived from a frequent question he was asked when he visited voters during his campaign: "What's wrong with the DPP?"

"I think this is a very important message for the DPP," Luo said. "As a member of the governing party and a political figure, it is necessary for us to have the ability of introspection."

"However, introspection doesn't necessarily mean that we are wrong. It means we should understand people's feelings with a more humble heart," he said.

Lo added that people's questions about the DPP could be viewed as good, since it showed they still cared about the party.

"I think our DPP colleagues should face these questions honestly and bravely, and find out what the problems are and try to fix them," Luo said.

When discussing how to revive the DPP, Tuan and Luo have reached an agreement that "it [the new DPP movement] has to be proposed before the elections," Lo said.

"Because we both agreed that it would be too late to win back people's fervor after they have lost it," Luo said.

BICKERING

Seeing that the government had gone nowhere because of political infighting between the pan-blue and pan-green camps over the past few years, Luo said he does not want the same thing to happen in the Taipei County Government, where he might become the leader.

"My campaign theme is to extend former county commissioner Su Tseng-chang's (蘇貞昌) policies, and I want to highlight inter-party cooperation, rather than prolonging the duel between the blue and the green," Luo said.

Luo said that he understood voters might be more concerned about the issues relating to the county government, rather than a political party's internal affairs.

"But we have noticed that the DPP government's recent negative news coverage has influenced voters' polling behavior and support, and we suspect it would have a certain degree of impact on the DPP's elections nationwide, which we need to address," Luo said.
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