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Su backs Hsieh for Taipei mayor, warns against recall

Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday said that he would support former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) running for Taipei mayor and former Council of Labor Affairs chairwoman Chen Chu (陳菊) running for Kaohsiung mayor.

"Chen was already nominated to represent the Democratic Progressive Party [DPP] in Kaohsiung. As for Taipei City, the DPP needs a `designated hitter' now, and I think Hsieh is the best candidate," Su said.

The premier made his remarks when he was approached by reporters at the Executive Yuan. He said that if Hsieh runs in the Taipei mayoral election and Chen runs in the Kaohsiung election, the DPP's future would still be bright.

Su praised Hsieh's hard-working attitude and solid reputation, saying he and Hsieh had been friends ever since they worked together to defend Yao Chia-wen (姚嘉文) -- now the president of the Examination Yuan -- after the Kaohsiung Incident (美麗島事件) on Dec. 10, 1979. Su said that Hsieh was a man who is capable of making important decisions intelligently and quickly.

"We have been through hard times together, and we organized the DPP together as well. He is definitely the ideal candidate for Taipei mayor. However, I will respect his decision either way," Su said.

Meanwhile, the premier said that a proposal to recall the president would only create more chaos.

"To recall the president requires sufficient evidence that he is not doing his job. Currently, it would be difficult for such a proposal to be approved," Su said.

A recall or an impeachment would require approval by two-thirds of the Legislative Yuan to move forward. The opposition parties control just over half of the number of seats in the legislature.

"I would urge our lawmakers to work on the pending budget proposals that can be used to help the government finish necessary public construction projects that affect public safety," he said.

The premier said that the movement to recall the president amounted to partisan grandstanding, and was not motivated by a genuine desire to recall a president who was not doing his job.

"Members of the public are smart enough to tell right from wrong. I believe that they are capable of seeing through the ruse behind the recall proposal. I hereby urge my fellow politicians to look before they leap," the premier said.
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