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.
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.
SHIPS, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: The ministry has announced changes to varied transportation industries taking effect soon, with a number of effects for passengers Beginning next month, the post office is canceling signature upon delivery and written inquiry services for international registered small packets in accordance with the new policy of the Universal Postal Union, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The new policy does not apply to packets that are to be delivered to China, the ministry said. Senders of international registered small packets would receive a NT$10 rebate on postage if the packets are sent from Jan. 1 to March 31, it added. The ministry said that three other policies are also scheduled to take effect next month. International cruise ship operators
NUMBERS IMBALANCE: More than 4 million Taiwanese have visited China this year, while only about half a million Chinese have visited here Beijing has yet to respond to Taiwan’s requests for negotiation over matters related to the recovery of cross-strait tourism, the Tourism Administration said yesterday. Taiwan’s tourism authority issued the statement after Chinese-language daily the China Times reported yesterday that the government’s policy of banning group tours to China does not stop Taiwanese from visiting the country. As of October, more than 4.2 million had traveled to China this year, exceeding last year. Beijing estimated the number of Taiwanese tourists in China could reach 4.5 million this year. By contrast, only 500,000 Chinese tourists are expected in Taiwan, the report said. The report
The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency yesterday launched a gift box to market honey “certified by a Formosan black bear” in appreciation of a beekeeper’s amicable interaction with a honey-thieving bear. Beekeeper Chih Ming-chen (池明鎮) in January inspected his bee farm in Hualien County’s Jhuosi Township (卓溪) and found that more than 20 beehives had been destroyed and many hives were eaten, with bear droppings and paw prints near the destroyed hives, the agency said. Chih returned to the farm to move the remaining beehives away that evening when he encountered a Formosan black bear only 20m away, the agency said. The bear
HORROR STORIES: One victim recounted not realizing they had been stabbed and seeing people bleeding, while another recalled breaking down in tears after fleeing A man on Friday died after he tried to fight the knife-wielding suspect who went on a stabbing spree near two of Taipei’s busiest metro stations, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. The 57-year-old man, identified by his family name, Yu (余), encountered the suspect at Exit M7 of Taipei Main Station and immediately tried to stop him, but was fatally wounded and later died, Chiang said, calling the incident “heartbreaking.” Yu’s family would receive at least NT$5 million (US$158,584) in compensation through the Taipei Rapid Transit Corp’s (TRTC) insurance coverage, he said after convening an emergency security response meeting yesterday morning. National
RSS