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DPP to attempt to persuade Hsieh to rethink resignation

The Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) Central Executive Committee yesterday decided to attempt to persuade Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) to retract his resignation as party chairman, which he submitted following his defeat in last Saturday's presidential election.

"We have unanimously reached the conclusion that Hsieh should stay put until we have a new chairman," Chiayi County Commissioner Chen Ming-wen (陳明文) told reporters after the meeting.

The DPP plans to elect a new chairman on May 25.

Hsieh had said before the presidential election that he would quit politics if he were to lose. He was absent from the meeting yesterday and was unavailable for comment last night.

Albert Lin (林耀文), a long-time Hsieh assistant, said Hsieh had not considered retaining the post, saying that media reports that Hsieh would remain on condition that the DPP wanted him to do so was speculation by DPP members who wanted Hsieh to stay.

"If Hsieh would like to continue to lead the party, that would be the party's good fortune," said Yeh Chu-lan (葉菊蘭), who worked as Hsieh's general campaign manager for the election.

Yeh resigned from her post as secretary-general of the Presidential Office two days after the election defeat, sparking speculation that she intended to run for the DPP's chairmanship.

Yeh dismissed that speculation yesterday, saying that "what is more important now is how the DPP regains the trust of the public, conducts self-scrutiny and encourages people's participation in the party."

Former DPP legislator Luo Wen-jia (羅文嘉), who initiated a party reform campaign a few years ago, also rebutted speculation that he intended to run for the party chairmanship.

"I still have lots to learn," he said. "I am not making preparations for the chairmanship."

In related news, Yeh yesterday rejected an accusation made by Shih Ming-te (施明德), who led the anti-President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) demonstrations in 2006, that Hsieh had demanded that Chen step down early in exchange for Shih's support during the presidential campaign.

"Shih made several suggestions on how to boost Hsieh's chances when I met him during the campaign, but neither Hsieh nor Chen were made aware of all Shih's opinions," Yeh said.

Meanwhile, Chao Tien-lin (趙天麟), who worked as Hsieh's spokesman during the campaign, yesterday elaborated on Hsieh's remarks on Wednesday regarding a re-investigation of the assassination attempt that injured Chen and Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) on the eve of the 2004 presidential election.

Hsieh mentioned president-elect Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) campaign pledges as Hsieh believes only a new investigation would convince the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), which has always cast doubt on the DPP government's official report of the incident, of the truth and that would contribute to a more harmonious atmosphere between the pan-blue and pan-green camps, Chao said.

Earlier yesterday, Hsieh met with the president for about an hour at the Presidential Office. Hsieh's aides refused to reveal details of their meeting.
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