Legislative elections and referendums: Chen resigns as chairman

President Chen Shui-bian, who doubles as Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman, bows after announcing his resignation as chairman following the party's defeat in yesterday's elections. Chen is joined by DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh. PHOTO: FANG PIN-CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday resigned as Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman following the party's crushing defeat in the legislative elections.

"This is the most disastrous defeat since the establishment of the party," Chen said. "As the party chairman, it is my inescapable responsibility to seriously face the matter and shoulder the responsibility with courage."

Chen said his resignation was effective immediately and the party would call a provisional Central Executive Committee meeting tomorrow to elect a new leader.

DPP legislative caucus leader Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) revealed last night that the party had reached a consensus to recommend DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) take over.

Flanked by Hsieh, Hsieh's running mate Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and other party bigwigs, Chen congratulated the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) for winning the elections.

Chen, bowing to express his regret, said he felt sorry and ashamed at the electoral result but there was no time to feel sorry because there was a bigger challenge ahead as the presidential election looms.

"Let's examine our mistakes, adjust our approach and start anew," he said. "We lost the legislative elections, but we cannot lose Taiwan."

Chen called for unity and asked party members to follow Hsieh's leadership and make an all-out effort to win the people's trust again in March.

Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) did not appear at the press conference. Chen and other party officials left straight after his speech.

Earlier yesterday, DPP Secretary-General Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) berated KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) for openly defying the election code by visiting candidates' campaign offices and homes. Cho requested the Central Election Commission (CEC) offer a clear explanation of the application of the Election and Recall Law of Civil Servants (公務人員選舉罷免法), which specifies that any political party or individual is banned from campaigning or electioneering on election day.

Cho also asked the CEC to investigate whether Ma and other KMT officials accompanying candidates to polling stations had broken the law.

Regarding the DPP's referendum, Cho said that party workers sent to monitor the voting process reported all forms of obstruction at polling stations, particularly in Taipei City, Taipei County and Ilan County.

"We are sorry to see this happen and it is a shame to see things that should not have happened did happen," he said.

Cho said some election personnel hinted to voters that they need not pick up the referendum ballots. Some simply told them not to pick up the ballots. Some called out the names of voters picking up the referendum ballots and some separated out those who had picked up the ballots and who had not. The setup at some polling stations was also not in line with the CEC regulations, he said.

First lady Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍) yesterday made her first public appearance in months when she came out to vote after being discharged from hospital late last month.

Wu was in the hospital after developing cold symptoms. Wu was paralyzed from the waist down and confined to a wheelchair after she was hit by a van in 1984.

Wu's public appearances have been rare since corruption charges against her, Chen and his close aides were filed last year. She was last seen in public in December 2006 when she almost collapsed during her first trial on corruption and forgery charges.

Accompanied by Chen, her son and daughter-in-law, Wu did not say anything yesterday.

Chen later told reporters that Wu could barely get out to vote because of low blood pressure, but she decided to make the effort because she did not want to miss the opportunity.

Chen and Wu picked up all four ballots, two for the election and another two for the referendums.

When Chen was talking to reporters after stepping out of the polling station, firecrackers were lit to cause a disturbance. Police said they had yet to find the person responsible, but were determined to do so.