Despite past faults while in government, voters should give the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) another chance next year, DPP Chairperson and presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) top campaign official said yesterday.
Many problems stemming from the administration of former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) came about because of the lack of a clear-cut majority in the legislature, leading to legislative gridlock, said former premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), who is now Tsai’s campaign chairman.
“And that is why this time around, voters should not only support Tsai for president, but also give DPP lawmakers a majority in the legislature,” Su said at a campaign event for New Taipei City (新北市) legislative candidate Lin Cho-shui (林濁水).
The event was one of the first for Su, Tsai’s former election rival, after he was named her campaign chair on June 22, putting to end months of tension between the two party heavyweights. However, the two did not arrive together at the event and chose to speak separately.
At Lin’s campaign event, Tsai pledged to focus on regional economic disparities if elected.
She said she would restructure financial subsidies from the central government, adding that there was no reason why municipalities such as New Taipei City should lag behind Taipei.
“Currently there are three worlds within one Taiwan — one for Taipei City, another for the other special municipalities and one more for the other cities and counties,” she said.
Although declaring his support for Tsai, Su, like other DPP heavyweights who have been given managerial spots in her campaign, has rarely shown up for work at her campaign center in Taipei.
In a sign that Su has yet to abandon his ambitions for a higher post, the former premier is expected to unveil a new office for his own Eball Foundation today that staff members say will allow him to continue to focus on promoting the nation’s arts and creative scene.
“The office will do charity work and concentrate on public welfare and creative enterprises,” Su spokesperson Lee Hou-ching (李厚慶) said in response to questions on a possible 2016 presidential run. “All that Su wants to be focused on right now is how to best help the DPP’s 2012 elections.”
Lee said Su had not ruled out sharing the stage with Tsai while campaigning for individual legislative candidates, an indication that this could take place in the near future “if time permits.”
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