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Chen praises DPP presidential ticket as sign of solidarity

After hailing the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) presidential ticket as "the first step toward party solidarity," President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said yesterday that a tough battle has begun and the DPP cannot afford to lose next year's presidential election.

"It is not easy taking the first step toward victory, and there are many challenges lying ahead," Chen said. "We can only prevail by working harder, taking the right course and touching the hearts of the 23 million people of Taiwan."

Chen made the remarks while meeting DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), his running mate -- former premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), and new Presidential Office Secretary-General Yeh Chu-lan (葉菊蘭) at the Presidential Office yesterday.

Chen said he was particularly impressed by a story recently told by Nicaraguan Vice President Jaime Morales Carazo.

"He told me that it is not easy to apologize but it is more difficult to forgive," Chen said. "He also told me that it is difficult to ask, but it is more difficult to say yes."

Chen said it was easy for him to ask Yeh to be Presidential Office secretary-general, but it was not so easy for her to accept. Similarly, it was not easy for Hsieh to ask Su to be his running mate, but it was hard for Su to accept.

"But we did it. We just took the first step toward victory," he said.

Chen said the key to election victory was unity, confidence and hard work. The Hsieh-Su ticket is the first step toward party solidarity and the "golden triangle" of Hsieh, Su and Yeh will make the job easier, Chen said.
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