Post-Election 2008: DPP keeps low profile on day after electoral defeat

A worker yesterday cleans up at Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Frank Hsieh's campaign headquarters. PHOTO: LO PEI-DER, TAIPEI TIMES

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was keeping a low profile yesterday following its defeat in Saturday's presidential election.

TV showed DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) being quietly whisked away from his residence in Taipei in a limousine early yesterday morning. He was later seen entering his campaign office, but neither he nor members of his campaign team made any public remarks.

Hsieh told supporters shortly after his loss on Saturday night that he would "keep every promise" he made in the run-up to the election. He said he would quit politics if he lost.

Hsieh won only 41.55 percent of the ballots cast, against 58.45 percent garnered by his Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) rival Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).

It is also customary at the DPP for the party chairman to bear responsibility for an election loss by resigning from the post. Hsieh succeed President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) as party chairman following the party's defeat in the legislative election in January.

Hsieh's running mate, Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), told reporters camping outside his residence yesterday that he and his party must look back at what they did and continue to care about the land and its people.

A DPP legislator who spoke on condition of anonymity said that Hsieh should follow the custom and resign from the post.

Among the contenders who the media have speculated could replace Hsieh are Su, former DPP chairman Yu Shyi-kun and Presidential Office Secretary-General Yeh Chu-lan (葉菊蘭).

DPP Legislator Huang Wei-cher (黃偉哲) said that what the party must now do is "heal its wounds," adding that prominent party members have a duty to set the example by taking a good critical look at themselves.

DPP Legislator Lee Chun-yee (李俊毅) said the party's next step should be to "wipe away the tears and stand up on its feet again."

With its legislative minority, Lee said the DPP must play an aggressive role in scrutinizing the KMT's performance and use public opinion to keep the KMT in check.

Additional reporting by AFP