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TSU says it will not disband, stay center-left

The Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) said on Thursday that although it failed to garner any seats in the recent legislative elections, it would not disband, contrary to local press reports.

TSU spokeswoman Chou Mei-li (周美里) was responding to reports that former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), regarded as the "spiritual leader" of the TSU, had not ruled out dissolving the party because of its poor performance in the elections.

CORRECT COURSE

"The center-left course of the TSU is the correct one and the party will stick with it," Chou said, adding that the party had reached a consensus that "it would not disappoint its supporters and would not disband."

The TSU hopefuls contesting in 13 districts on Saturday won just 93,840 votes in the elections. Although it pinned great hope on gaining party votes, the TSU managed only 348,887 party votes, far below the 5 percent threshold of around 500,000 votes that would ensure legislator-at-large seats.

REVIEW MEETING

The TSU convened a three-day meeting to review the performance of the party, with TSU local chapter heads, TSU Central Executive Committee members and defeated TSU hopefuls participating.

Chou claimed that grassroots supporters are supportive of the TSU's center-left line, but said that not many voters as yet are aware of the policy.

"The TSU is committed to its supporters and will not change its center-left line," she said.

The TSU, founded in August 2001, had its best day at the 2001 legislative elections when it won 13 seats in the 225-seat legislature.
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