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 (
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 (
"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 (
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.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
UNILATERAL MOVES: Officials have raised concerns that Beijing could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan next year The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) yesterday said that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open next year that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns. Xiamen Xiangan International Airport is only about 3km at its closest point from the islands in Kinmen County — the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War — and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side. In a written statement sent to Reuters, the CAA said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced
WEATHER Typhoon forming: CWA A tropical depression is expected to form into a typhoon as early as today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the storm’s path remains uncertain. Before the weekend, it would move toward the Philippines, the agency said. Some time around Monday next week, it might reach a turning point, either veering north toward waters east of Taiwan or continuing westward across the Philippines, the CWA said. Meanwhile, the eye of Typhoon Kalmaegi was 1,310km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, as of 2am yesterday, it said. The storm is forecast to move through central
RSS