Former New Tide members unhappy after DPP primary

The Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) primary for the year-end legislative elections is already over, but some former members of the disbanded New Tide Faction say the party's central leadership treated them unfairly.

The DPP's deputy secretary-general, Tsai Huang-liang (蔡煌瑯), said yesterday that the DPP might summon candidates who lost in the party primary to run for legislative seats in "tough electoral zones," adding that a committee with nine members would meet soon to consult hopefuls.

DPP Yu Shyi-kun endorsed the plan, saying that no one would be ruled out.

Asked they would respond if the party leadership decided to summon them to run in "tough electoral zones" where the odds are against DPP candidates, at least four of a group of DPP members dubbed the "11 bandits" by their critics reacted with indifference or made sarcastic remarks.

Of the group, who have been vocal in criticizing their party -- all but one failed to be nominated to run for a legislative seat.

DPP Cheng Yun-peng (鄭運鵬) said that the party should summon DPP Secretary-General Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) to run in a tough district because of his "high caliber, competence and consistent political correctness."

Cheng lambasted Lin a week earlier for calling former members of the New Tide faction who were defeated in the primary "opportunists."

"If we lose, we will be blamed for not having enough voter support. And if we win, the credit will go to the party because of its successful strategy," he said.

Lin Cho-shui (林濁水), a former DPP legislator-at-large who resigned from the legislature last November over corruption allegations involving the first family, also said the DPP should summon party members who are not opportunists, adding that Lin would be an ideal choice.

Legislator Shen Fa-hui (沈發惠) criticized the DPP leadership for conducting opinion polls for the primary in such a way as to exclude KMT supporters.