Former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday unveiled his campaign platform for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairmanship election in May, focusing on three key areas — a feasible China policy, party reform and central government reform.
“I believe that the ‘two constitutions, different interpretations’ (憲法各表) initiative I’ve been advocating for more than three years is a feasible China policy that should help the party cross ‘the last mile’ and return to power [in 2016],” Hsieh said during a meeting with reporters.
While the initiative has not yet been well-received in the party, Hsieh said he welcomed the challenge from anyone who can beat his proposal and satisfy the “three ultimate requirements for the DPP’s China policy” — that it be accepted by Taiwanese, supported by Washington and viewed tolerable by Beijing.
“The US’ view is actually more important than how China feels about it,” he said, citing as an example the US Department of State’s interference with former DPP presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) campaign, which observers said eventually cost Tsai a victory in the 2012 election.
The DPP cannot afford to be marginalized in cross-strait engagement, which has been dominated by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), he said.
“We have to actively seek to play a role and participate in the engagement with confidence,” he said.
Hsieh declined to directly comment on his potential rivals in what many believe would be a three-way race with Tsai and DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), and categorically denied that he and Tsai had been considering an alliance against Su.
However, Hsieh hinted that Tsai may be better off focusing on another run at the presidency in 2016.
Being a party chairman “is dirty work” and Tsai “might as well let me handle it,” he said.
With regards to party affairs, Hsieh said he has been particularly concerned about the DPP losing touch with its supporters and the public, which is why people “have pretty much decided to abandon the DPP.”
Hsieh proposed to reconnect the party with the people by introducing deliberative democracy, focusing on deliberation and discussion of public policy and political affairs with constituents and party members, and eliminating traditional grassroots organization practices that mainly consist of politicians appearing at wedding ceremonies and funerals.
On reforming the central government, Hsieh said it is imperative to do so because responsible politics has been sorely lacking in recent years, with very few government officials being held accountable for ill-advised and incorrect policies or poorly executed administrative orders.
“With these measures, hopefully the DPP can live up to its name by being a progressive party that always takes the interests of the Taiwanese public as its No. 1 priority,” Hsieh said.
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