Former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday confirmed that he would run for a spot on the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Central Standing Committee.
The move could give the one-time presidential candidate, who had vowed to back out of politics following his loss in the 2008 presidential election, more sway over an increasingly confident DPP heading into November’s special municipality elections.
Last month, a three day sit-in supporting a referendum on a proposed economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China planned by Hsieh, who currently heads the non-profit Taiwan Shadow Government, attracted the support of thousands.
Nominations for the DPP’s three committees — the Central Executive Committee, Central Standing Committee and Central Evaluation Committee — opened yesterday and will close on Friday.
On July 18, a full meeting of the DPP’s National Convention will elect 30 members for the executive committee and 11 members for the evaluation committee. Executive committee members will then conduct an internal vote and elect 10 standing committee members, which have the authority to decide on party policies and initiatives.
Both former vice president Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) and former premier Yu Shyi-kun (游錫堃) are two other potential contenders for a spot on the decision-making body.
DPP Legislator Gao Jyh-peng (高志鵬) said the standing committee would likely play an important part in the year-end elections, where the DPP is aiming to win at least three of the five mayoral seats.
Sources close to Lu did not confirm whether she would stand, despite an article in the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper) yesterday that claimed the former vice president had already made her decision to run.
Yu, who is currently traveling in the US after his failed bid to be the DPP’s mayoral candidate in Sinbei City, could not be reached for comment.
In related news, DPP spokesperson Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) said yesterday the party’s platform for the year-end elections would focus on local issues, instead of being defined by its views on an ECFA.
Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌), who is running for re-election, said on Sunday that his DPP counterpart, former premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), owed Taipei residents an explanation on his attitude toward the ECFA, which the government wants to sign later this month.
Responding to his comments, Tsai Chi-chang accused Hau of “political pandering” and said he should instead be fighting an election battle based on his achievements as Taipei mayor over the past four years.
While the DPP would not rule out talking about the ECFA, it chose to fight the elections based on providing a “happy lifestyle,” the spokesperson added.
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
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
Taiwan Travelogue (臺灣漫遊錄), which earlier this week became the first Taiwanese novel to win the International Booker Prize, is to be adapted into a television series through a Taiwan-Japan coproduction, producer Chang Chen-yu (張辰漁) said yesterday. Chang, a producer at World Softest Production Film Co, wrote on Facebook that the company had been searching for projects with international appeal that retain a strong Taiwanese identity after colleagues and Japanese partners strongly recommended the novel. After reading the book, Chang said he immediately decided to pursue the screen rights. “A great story has the power to transcend time and borders, and connect countless people,”
RSS