Tue, Dec 13, 2005 page3

• DPP lawmakers differ on alleged Chen-Lu dispute

  RUMORS DPP members had wide-ranging views about claims in the local media that the president had accused the acting party chairwoman of taking advantage of him

  • By Ko Shu-ling / STAFF REPORTER
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  Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers yesterday expressed divided views over the allegedly tense relationship between President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), who doubles up as the acting DPP chairwoman following the party's resounding defeat in the Dec. 3 elections.

  Claims have appeared in the Chinese-language media that Chen has accused Lu of "taking advantage" of him since she was elected to take over the party's helm after former DPP chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) stepped down to take the blame for the party's poor election performance.

  Deputy Secretary-General of the Presidential Office Ma Yung-cheng (馬永成) yesterday hesitated to elaborate on the issue, saying that he has "never heard the president make such a comment."

  Speculation is mounting that the president is upset about Lu's recent high-profile moves after taking up the job. Lu has met with lawmakers, faction leaders and high-ranking party officials, which some people have interpreted as an aggressive effort to boost her chances in the DPP chairmanship election, which is scheduled to be held before the Lunar New Year.

  Presidential Office officials have revealed that Presidential Office Secretary-General Yu Shyi-kun may also consider running for the post if he receives the clear and full support of the president.

  While Chen yesterday cancelled a planned meeting with Lu, Lu also cancelled her meeting with party officials.

  Despite describing Lu as "hyperactive," DPP Legislator Lee Chun-yee (李俊毅) yesterday said that he does not think the president would have uttered such a harsh remark about Lu.

  "I think the president and the vice president may have not yet reached an agreement on what her new responsibilities are," he said. "The vice president and DPP members must work with each other to build more mutual trust."

  DPP Legislator Lin Chung-mo (林重謨), who has expressed an interest in running for the position, yesterday criticized Lu for doing things that go beyond her responsibilities.

  "Many colleagues have seen her as a headache since she was elected vice president. I admit that she is a very talented and capable person, but one of her biggest shortcomings is that she is not a team player and has too much ego," Lin said.

  Lin cited a comment reportedly made by Lu in the run-up to the Dec. 3 polls. Lu predicted that the DPP would lose the elections.

  DPP Legislator Lin Cho-shui (林濁水) yesterday said that although he is not sure whether the president has indeed accused Lu of taking advantage of him, he thought it was inappropriate for Lu to make any major decisions before a new chairman has been elected.

  "If she has any good ideas about party reform, she might want to leave it to the new chairman or ask the new chairperson to seriously consider it. However, it would be very inappropriate for an acting chairperson to make such important decisions or major changes," Lin said.

  As the president has not yet revealed how he intends to tackle the political fallout created by the dismal election results, Lin yesterday said that Chen might want to focus on what direction the party is to take in future, what vision it plans to bring to the people and what government policies it intends to introduce before figuring out how to reorganize the government.
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