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DPP to map out future direction in series of talks

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is scheduled to launch a series of meetings today to review its recent election losses and discuss the party’s future.

The party has invited academics, social groups and media representatives to participate separately in the first four meetings, to be held at the party’s headquarters in Taipei. Today’s meeting will give academics a chance to make their opinions heard.

On Saturday and Sunday, the party will hold three meetings in Kaohsiung, Taichung and Taipei at which party members will also be invited to voice their views.

Two meetings focusing on the party’s performance in elections and the selection of candidates for party positions are tentatively set for April 19 and April 20.

Meeting details will be finalized today by the Central Executive Committee.

The nine meetings will look in depth at the party’s current state and future direction and discuss reforms.

If any amendments to the party charter or platform are proposed, they will require the approval of the Central Executive Committee later on and must be ratified by the DPP National Congress scheduled to open on May 4.

Meanwhile, today’s Central Executive Committee meeting will decide whether to move up the date for electing a new party chairman from May 25 to May 18. It will also consider whether to hold the poll for party chief in conjunction with the election of party representatives and local party chiefs.

DPP Chairman Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) is expected to propose allowing party members aged between 18 and 35 who have held party membership for less than a year to vote for the chairman next month. Currently, members of all ages who have held membership for more than one year are allowed to vote. The proposal is expected as a measure to boost participation by younger members.

Meanwhile, the DPP is considering a belt-tightening program that would include downsizing its headquarters. The party also hopes to raise funds from other sources.

The budget program is one of a series of reform measures under consideration in response to the election losses and financial difficulties.

Sources said the DPP was also considering cutting the number of party employees from 130 down to between 80 and 100. That would save the party between NT$20 million (US$6.5 million) and NT$40 million a year in personnel expenses, the sources said.

Although there are 15 job vacancies, they would not be filled, the sources said, adding that the positions of some 30 temporary employees hired for the legislative and presidential elections ended on Tuesday.

Part of a NT$160 million subsidy the party will receive for participating in the presidential election will be used to pay off debts, but the party will still be around NT$200 million in debt, the sources said.

To balance its finances, Hsieh proposed a fund-raising campaign, they said.

Additional reporting by Lee Hsin-fang
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