Sun, Jan 31, 2016 page3

• DPP reacts to rumor Tsai is to quit as chair

  FOCUSING ON TOP JOB: Tsai’s aides have expressed their support for her to stay on in the post, but sources close to the DPP said that Tsai is not keen to stay on

  • By Sean Lin / Staff reporter Staff reporter
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  Rumors that president-elect Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) could resign as Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairperson have sparked mixed reactions among DPP members.

  Sources close to the DPP said that Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊) is a prospective candidate for the chairmanship if Tsai chooses to resign.

  According to the DPP’s constitution, a party chairperson election is held biennially at the end of May, with the election scheduled to take place this year.

  

  President-elect Tsai Ing-wen, who is known as a cat lover, holds a cartoon portraying her as a cat at the Fancy Frontier Comics Festival in Taipei yesterday.

  Photo: CNA

  However, the party’s statutes also stipulate that the president may double as party chairperson, meaning that an election would not be necessary should Tsai decide to continue serving as the chairperson.

  If an election is to take place, the DPP should make an announcement by the end of April, the party’s statutes state.

  Although Tsai’s aides have expressed their support for her to stay on in the post, sources close to the DPP said that Tsai is not keen on remaining DPP chairperson, as she wants to focus on her duties as president.

  Tsai favors Chen to fill the post as DPP chairperson, sources said.

  Chen, who served as Tsai’s campaign office director, is considered the leader of the DPP’s “new wave” and a prominent Tsai stalwart.

  Meanwhile, DPP Legislator Chao Tien-lin (趙天麟) said he had not heard about Tsai’s potential resignation.

  Chao said that both scenarios would have their pros and cons.

  If Tsai doubles as party chairperson, it would boost cohesion between the nation and the DPP, thereby improving the efficiency of drafting and implementing policies and avoiding conflicts sparked by differing views held by party members, Chao said.

  In an alternative scenario, by separating her control over the DPP from her administrative powers, DPP members would have a more open channel to voice their opinions, especially when controversial issues are discussed, he said.

  However, this scenario could give rise to frequent changes in the directions of policies, and insightful opinions might well end up being drowned in the heat of debates, he said.

  With such high expectations of the DPP and with so many items awaiting reform, Tsai doubling as chairperson boasts the advantage of facilitating reform, DPP Legislator Chen Ting-fei (陳亭妃) said.

  It is “absolutely necessary” that Tsai continues serving as DPP chairperson, Chen said.

  DPP spokesperson Yang Chia-liang (楊家俍) dismissed rumors that Tsai is considering resigning as party chairperson, saying that it is too early to bring up the issue.
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