Yu says that DPP's primary mechanism is causing problems

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Yu Shyi-kun yesterday said he supported polling only pan-green supporters in the party's primary in a bid to prevent "candidates with pan-blue values" from being nominated.

Yu, one of four contenders vying for the party's nomination for next year's presidential election, said the party's current primary mechanism was problematic.

According to the DPP's primary regulations, 70 percent of a candidate's final "score" in the primary comes from his or her poll rating while party member votes account for the other 30 percent.

"Through [the previous system of] polls, candidates with pan-blue or Chinese values can be easily `delivered,'" Yu said, meaning that the DPP had been exploited as a "surrogate mother" for these "pro-blue" candidates.

"But these `children' will not be so filial to their `mother' and could attack her if they have the opportunity," Yu said when approached by reporters for comments.

"For the sake of the DPP's long-term development and of urging every DPP official and member to stick to the DPP's progressive value, I personally favor employing a poll that excludes `light-blue' and `deep-blue' supporters," he said on the sideline of the party's conference yesterday, adding that he was not accusing any specific individual.

However, he declined to clarify whether such a polling strategy should be applied to the legislative primary, the presidential one, or both.

"I am resolved to establish a system in the DPP despite the many difficulties," he said, emphasizing that he would also like to give more weight to party member votes in the primary.

"I, as the chairman, need to defend the rights of party members," he added.

DPP whip Wang Tuoh (王拓) had criticized Yu on Friday, saying that Yu damaged the DPP's primary negotiations for his personal interests because Yu insisted on highlighting party member votes in the DPP's presidential primary.

In his defense, Yu issued a statement afterwards stating that he was following the party's core values and there was nothing wrong with that.