DPP caucus backs Chen, agrees not to criticize him

President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) televised address on Tuesday night defending his government spurred his party members to support him, but some chose to remain silent when asked to comment on Chen's speech.

The Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) caucus reached an unofficial consensus at a meeting yesterday that caucus members would not criticize the president before Tuesday, when the motion to recall the president is put to a vote.

The caucus also decided to mobilize supporters for a rally outside the legislature next Tuesday to protest the recall motion, which was sponsored by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and People First Party.

The DPP caucus filed an application to Taipei's Zhongzheng First Police District in the hope of gaining permission to assemble supporters on Qingdao E Road, opposite Jinan Road where pan-blue supporters are assembling.

"We will all vote against the recall and hope pan-blue legislators will respond to the people's appeal," DPP caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) said.

DPP Yu Shyi-kun told legislators in the meeting that the president had already clarified allegations linked to the first family.

"I think the president will have no problem gaining trust from the people and caucus members after his speech," DPP caucus whip Yeh Yi-ching (葉宜津) said.

But not all DPP legislators expressed approval of the president.

"Given that the president's leadership style, performance as ruler and integrity have been questioned, he should address the public with a sincere apology and modesty, rather than try to defend himself," Legislator Lee Wen-chung (李文忠) said.

"Last night, I saw merely a silver-tongued lawyer, not a president who feels regret for the questions people have about him," Lee said.

Lee the comment before the caucus meeting; after the meeting, he said he had been reminded not to criticize Chen.

Meanwhile, the president's comments in defense of his wife Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍), in which he said that she hadn't met Chen Yu-hao (陳由豪), a fugitive tycoon who claimed to have made a political donation to the president through Wu, sparked more questions about the matter.

Days the 2004 presidential election, the tycoon accused the president of accepting political donations from him six times. Chen Yu-hao said that, accompanied by former DPP legislator Shen Fu-hsiung (沈富雄), he had met Wu in her Mingsheng E Road residence, giving her NT$6 million (US$187,617).

Shen, who on May 29 corroborated Chen Yu-hao's remarks about visiting Wu, yesterday avoided commenting on the president's speech.

"I really don't want to talk about this any more. We will never find out the truth about this," Shen said.

Shen that yesterday's China Times and United Daily News had reports which were "very close to the truth."

The reports cast doubt on the president's defense against Shen's remarks on May 29.

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