Former premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday visited the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) Taipei City Council caucus, triggering speculation about his intention to run for Taipei mayor in December.
Su was greeted by cheers to “run for Taipei mayor” and “run for president” when he showed up at the caucus’ tea party. He declined to say whether he would represent the DPP in the year-end mayoral race.
“Let's discuss future elections after today's legislative by-elections. I will share my thoughts with the public after the by-elections,” Su said at the city council.
Su has topped DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and other DPP heavyweights in several polls as the most popular candidate in the race for Sinbei City and Taipei mayor.
A survey conducted by the Chinese-language China Times newspaper earlier this month showed that Su was the only potential DPP candidate who was likely to pose a threat to Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin’s (郝龍斌) re-election bid.
Asked abou Su showing up at the council, Hau said Su was a preferred candidate not only in local elections, but also the presidential election in 2012. Hau said he would solicit support from Taipei City residents by presenting solid municipal policies.
“Su is one of the DPP's presidential hopefuls and he would be a “respectable” opponent [if he chose to run for Taipei mayor],” Hau said.
Su remained tight-lipped about his intentions, while taking the occasion to lash out at President Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) administration for blaming the state-run CPC Corp, Taiwan overcharging motorists for air pollution fees on the former DPP government.
“Ma vowed to take full responsibility as the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) took the rein of the country. Blaming it on the former government is typical smear campaign and an irresponsible act of the Ma administration,” he said.
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