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Focus on public, not party: Su

Former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday called for an end to speculations on who would run for party chairman, saying the first priority was to listen to the public.

"It is wrong to focus on who will run for party chairman while ignoring the voice of the people," he said.

The party's charter stipulates that the head of state should lead the party when it is in power, and that party members should directly elect the chairman when it is in opposition.

The DPP lost to the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) by a 17 percent margin in the presidential election on March 22.

Su said that many factors had contributed to the party's defeat and the party must conduct serious soul searching.

He said that while many party members had talked about it, no one had thanked or consoled those who supported the DPP in the election.

Su said he felt obliged to visit them, thank them, listen to them and apologize for letting them down.

He will begin a tour this week to extend his appreciation and apologies to the people who supported them, he said.

DPP Legislator Gao Jyh-peng (高志鵬) agreed that the party should focus on party reform.

"There is no chicken left, everybody is after the chicken bones," he said.

While Su and other senior party members have dismissed media speculation that they would run in the contest for party chairman on May 25, rumors have been circulating that they would recommend their preferred candidate for the post.

To consolidate his support base in the party, Su is rumored to be teaming up with the party's disbanded New Tide faction to ask former DPP deputy secretary-general Tuan Yi-kang (段宜康) to run.

A number of former New Tide members are also said to back President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) for the position. There is also talk of a Chen, Su and former New Tide members alliance against party chairman Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) and former party chairman Yu Shyi-kun.

Hsieh, who has rejected media speculation that he would stand in the election next month, is rumored to favor DPP Secretary-General Lee Ying-yuan (李應元), his campaign manager, to contest the race.

Yu, who has also dismissed speculation that he would run, is said to back Presidential Office Deputy Secretary-General Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍).

Meanwhile, former Presidential Office secretary-general Chen Shih-meng (陳師孟) is said to have the support of the party's different factions.

Other names mentioned in the media but who have rebuffed the rumors include Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), former Presidential Office secretary-general Yeh Chu-lan (葉菊蘭) and former DPP legislator Luo Wen-chia (羅文嘉).
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