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DPP knocks back attempt to review primary regulations

The Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) Central Executive Committee yesterday overruled a member's attempt to review the party's regulations for legislator-at-large primaries.

DPP Secretary-General Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) told a press conference that the committee had vetoed a proposal by committee member Huang Ching-lin (黃慶林) to convene an impromptu DPP national assembly to discuss possible changes to primary regulations.

Huang had hoped to persuade an assembly that candidates for legislator-at-large should be chosen solely by means of a party member vote.

The DPP's primary regulations state that legislator-at-large candidates must be chosen by means of a public opinion poll and a party member vote. The poll counts for 60 percent of a hopeful's "score," while the party member vote counts for 40 percent.

Support

Although Huang's proposal was endorsed by 11 of the DPP's regional headquarters directors, the committee still ruled against it, Lin said, without saying why.

DPP regulations state that an impromptu national assembly must be convened if more than five regional offices call for one.

Lin said Huang should seek approval from more than five DPP district executive committees if he wants to push his proposal further.

Negotiations

In related news, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) was asked by reporters yesterday whether he plans to facilitate another round of negotiations between the party's four presidential aspirants.

The question came amid reports that the president, having presided over two rounds of mediation and coordination without achieving any tangible results, was ready to give up.

In response to the question, Chen said: "If the four candidates see a need for future negotiations, I will not shirk my responsibility. For now, I don't see the necessity, but things can always change," he added.

All seven DPP city and county chiefs had issued a joint statement yesterday, calling for President Chen to continue to mediate between Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) and DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊), who initiated the petition, said DPP members were worried that stiff competition among the four heavyweights could divide the party. Chen Chu urged the president not to lose heart.

Additional reporting by Angelica Oung and CNA
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