Former Democratic Progressive Party legislator Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) is said to be considering running for party chairperson after Taichung Mayor Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) on Tuesday said that he “has no intention” of joining the race.
As of press time yesterday, no one had registered for the Jan. 6 election. Today is the last day for candidates to register for the race.
Chen, who resigned from the legislature to run for Kaohsiung mayor, yesterday morning told reporters that while he must reflect on his election defeat, he also believes that every member is obliged to help the party through difficult times.
Photo: Wang Jung-hsiang, Taipei Times
As a member, he would “do his best to help” the party “with any task, anytime,” he said, adding that he would tell the public when he decides.
The party needs someone with integrity and a warm personality to overcome the “cold snap,” DPP Legislator Hsu Chih-chieh (許智傑) said, referring to the media frenzy over Kaohsiung mayor-elect Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), whose eponymous “Han tide” (hanliu, 韓流) popularity wave has come to be known as the “cold snap” (hanliu, 寒流) .
Chen has a natural and warm personality, and is someone who can take on the responsibility of chairperson, Hsu added.
Since President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) stepped down as chairperson last month after the DPP suffered losses in the Nov. 24 nine-in-one elections, speculation has mounted about who would replace her. Suggestions include include Lin, Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦), Hsinchu Mayor Lin Chih-chien (林智堅), DPP acting chairperson and Keelung Mayor Lin Yu-chang (林右昌) and Minister of Culture Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君).
Lin Chia-lung initially said that he was “willing to take on the responsibility,” but on Tuesday said he has no intention of joining the election and would back capable members to run for chairperson.
Cheng Wen-tsan, Lin Chih-chien and Lin Yu-chang have said they have no plans to run, while Cheng Li-chiun decided not to register after gauging responses from other party members.
Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation chairman Michael You (游盈隆) is the only party member to have publicly voiced his interest.
You, who announced his decision on Wednesday, said that he would register after he has collected enough money to meet the election deposit requirement of NT$1.5 million (US$48,622).
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS