DPP chairman comes under fire over remarks about presidential candidate

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Yu Shyi-kun came under fire from several party members yesterday over his remarks that DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh's (謝長廷) public support ratings had dropped because the party had not proposed a clear vision as stated in its draft "normal country resolution."

When approached for comment, DPP legislative whip Wang Tuoh (王拓) said Yu's remarks would have a negative impact on the DPP's performance in next year's presidential poll.

Wang said the public might get the impression that party headquarters and Hsieh's presidential campaign were at odds, adding that he had heard complaints from grassroots supporters.

Wang was responding to remarks Yu had made after a meeting with President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) on Monday night. Yu said that Hsieh's public support had declined because many supporters did not know why they should vote for the party.

Yu told the press that the latest public survey conducted by the party had shown a widening gap between Hsieh and his Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) counterpart, Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).

Yu said if the party failed to pass the draft "normal country resolution" at its Central Executive Committee meeting today, he did not know how he could campaign for Hsieh.

Yu on Aug. 1 unveiled the party's draft "normal country resolution," which highlights the need for the nation to change its name to "Taiwan" to differentiate it from China.

Meanwhile, DPP Legislator Kao Chien-chih (高建智), a member of Hsieh's camp, said yesterday that the decrease in support for Hsieh "could be because [the DPP] is pushing the resolution."

Kao said it would be better for the party to push through the draft resolution after next year's presidential election.

When approached for comment, DPP Legislator Lee Chun-yee (李俊毅), also affiliated with Hsieh's camp, questioned Yu's motives for promoting the draft resolution, saying that Yu might be attempting to establish his own legacy.

"Yu may also be challenging the president, because the president would face pressure to change the nation's title and the `status quo' once the `normal country resolution' is passed," he said.

Yu said yesterday that the resolution was an important strategy that offered a vision to "deep-green" supporters and swing voters.

"The content and wording of the resolution can be changed, but [the DPP] cannot do without the resolution," he said when approached by reporters at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.

Several pro-independence groups meanwhile unveiled their own "guidelines for normalizing the nation" yesterday.

The guidelines stated that "our national title should be changed to `Taiwan' through a referendum" and that "a new Taiwanese constitution should be written to ensure that Taiwan is a new and independent state."

Northern Taiwan Society vice chairwoman Michelle Wang (王美琇) urged Hsieh at a press conference to face the issue of normalizing the nation and not hesitate.