The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday it would be about NT$200 million (US$6.6 million) in debt by the end of this year if projected expenditures remained unchanged.
DPP Chairman Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) told reporters after the party’s Central Standing Committee meeting yesterday afternoon that the debt included NT$160 million left over by his predecessors.
Part of the NT$160 million has been paid, leaving NT$76 million, which the party intends to pay off by the end of this year.
In addition to encouraging the public to donate money, Hsieh said he was wondering whether it was necessary to maintain staff at the current level, as there will be no elections for another 20 months.
DPP Secretary-General and Hsieh campaign manager Lee Ying-yuan (李應元) said the campaign office had broken even after the presidential election and had already paid off the NT$200 million in advertising expenses.
Hsieh and Lee made the remarks in response to a report published in the latest issue of Next Magazine, which claimed that the DPP and Hsieh’s campaign office had a combined debt of NT$400 million to NT$500 million.
CHAIRPERSON
On the election of a new party chairperson, Hsieh encouraged young party members yesterday to register for the race. The party will hold a debate for aspirants on May 10, while the election will be held on May 18.
Former premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) said yesterday that although it was “nice” to let young members who have been in the party for less than a year elect the chairman, he believed it was his duty to point out the unfairness of the measure.
Kaohsiung County Commissioner Yang Chiu-hsing (楊秋興) said the measure was “a little strange,” but added that “extraordinary times require extraordinary measures.”
Lee said it was imperative that new blood be infused into the party, adding that 20 percent of the 5 million people voting for the DPP were young people.
NAMES
Yang also dismissed speculation that the DPP’s disbanded New Tide faction would like him to run for DPP chairman.
Yang said that former Presidential Office secretary-general Chen Shih-meng (陳師孟) would make a better candidate, adding that he had talked to Chen about the idea by telephone.
While Chen told him he was not in good health, Yang said he was under the impression that Chen would agree to lead the party if party members reached a consensus.
Yang said it would be a better idea to choose the party chairman via negotiations rather than through an election because an election was bound to create animosity, which is the last thing the party needs at the moment. Hsieh and Lee expressed similar views.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
Carrefour Taiwan is to begin using a new name from the start of July, but it cannot divulge the name until then, the chairman of the supermarket chain's parent company said today. President Chain Store Co chairman Lo Chih-hsien (羅智先) was asked by reporters after a shareholders' meeting to confirm whether the company has settled on a new name for the supermarket brand. In March, the government-registered name of two Carrefour Taiwan branches was quietly changed to "Le Chia Kang" (樂家康) in Chinese, raising speculation that has been selected as the name. Lo said that because of local regulations and contractual obligations, the
The Philippines would likely be involved in any conflict over Taiwan due to its proximity to the democracy claimed by China, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said, reiterating a stance that risks angering Beijing. “In the Philippines, we do not have a choice because Taiwan is so close to the Philippines and we have almost 200,000 Filipino nationals living and working in Taiwan,” Marcos said in an interview with Japanese media in Manila on Monday. The Philippine leader’s comments come ahead of a state visit to Japan next week, where he is to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to discuss security
RSS