President Chen calls for unity ahead of second presidential primary debate

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday issued a statement calling for unity ahead of the second debate between Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential primary candidates.

In the statement titled "Unity is our only option. A temporary rival shouldn't become a permanent enemy," Chen told the four DPP presidential aspirants that "party unity is the only thing party members and supporters will bear in mind when they cast votes in the primary."

Chen said his victory in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections proved that it was party unity that had turned the tide and helped him win the elections with a narrow-margin.

"With unanimous support from party members, I was nominated without a primary ... Of course, history will not repeat itself, but it's certain that no one can succeed alone. Only the support from rivals' camps can create favorable conditions for the party's nominee to win an election," Chen said in the statement.

The president has made two previous attempts to mediate among the DPP's four contenders -- Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), party Chairman Yu Shyi-kun, Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷).

"The goal of the primary is to select a candidate or to form the presidential ticket with the best chance of winning next year's election. It should help the party multiply the strengths of the four contenders rather than detracting from those strengths," he said in the statement.

Chen urged the four DPP presidential hopefuls to refrain from attacking each other and consider party unity.

"No one can score points by making remarks that will cause our friends pain and gladden our enemies, nor will anyone behaving that way be supported by party members," Chen said.