The Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) Central Executive Committee (CEC), in an extraordinary meeting yesterday, formalized the Central Standing Committee's call for President Chen Shui-bian (
Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) and Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊
"Former chairman Yu insisted on resigning from his post. The DPP has no choice but to invite President Chen to lead us again to victory in the elections next year," Lu said after the meeting.
PHOTO: CNA
Chang and DPP caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (
"I believe that President Chen will understand that this duty can't be avoided. All party members will support him and fight for victory next year together," Ker said.
DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (
Yeh said Chen was still considering whether or not to double as chairman.
Chen, who resigned as party chairman on Dec. 15, 2004, after the party's defeat in the 2004 legislative elections, was urged to take the helm after chairman Yu Shyi-kun quit late on Monday night.
Some pro-independence advocates, including former senior presidential adviser Koo Kwan-min (辜寬敏) and talk show host Wang Ben-hu (汪笨湖) strongly oppose the decision, saying Yu should stay to avoid putting yet another burden on Chen's shoulders.
Yeh said the party respected all opinions, but would not change its decision.
A Hualien pomelo farmer refused to sell to China after the country announced it would permit more Taiwanese pomelo imports, prompting widespread support from Taiwanese consumers, who rallied to buy his fruit. China’s Taiwan Affairs Office last month said that China’s General Administration of Customs registered an additional 79 Taiwanese pomelo orchards and packing facilities in Hualien County, allowing more Taiwanese producers to export pomelos to China. “I am a Hualien fruit farmer and I refuse to sell to China,” Liu Tzu-hao (劉子豪) from Ruisui Township (瑞穗) said in an online post. Liu is a well-known farmer in the community and has served
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