The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has had almost two weeks to reflect on its showing in last month’s presidential election and in that time there has been no shortage of people coming forward with explanations for the loss.
From disappointment with the government’s achievements, to corruption, to the nation’s supposed “lackluster” economic performance, every angle seems to have been considered.
It’s true that during its eight years in power the DPP did not live up to its lofty ideals, as promises of clean government were dashed on the rocks of individual greed and its platform of a “nuclear free” Taiwan fell victim to its naivety concerning the power of international corporations and their high-paid lawyers, but it is common for opposition parties to find their wings clipped once they assume power.
And while the seemingly never-ending stream of bad news concerning the government during the last few years did not help, very few have noted that in most two-party democracies people eventually get fed up with the ruling party and decide to give the opposition a chance.
This would seem to be a reasonable assumption, given that the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) also talked about reform following its two election defeats in 2000 and 2004, and yet voters have given it another chance despite the absence of any noticeable change. One could argue that the party’s revival has more to do with the persona of president-elect Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) than anything else.
There has been a lot of talk within DPP circles about “generational change,” with the Formosa Incident era leaders making way for the leaders of the student movement of the 1980s and 1990s. However, it is hard to identify any potential future stars among the younger generation.
The biggest problem is that none of the “white lilies” currently hold a position of any importance that would give them a chance to prove themselves, build a record of achievement and establish a reputation as a leader. Given this state of affairs, it could be a long time before the DPP can produce someone with the kind of voter appeal Ma has.
Nevertheless, the party does need to respond to its recent electoral defeats as it seems to have lost its way during its time in power.
A “reform team” has been set up and it has already identified seven major problems within the party and heard suggestions on how to remedy them.
What’s apparent is that organizational change is needed, and this is a long-term process that cannot be achieved under current circumstances as the two-year term limit for the chairmanship provides the party with little chance of continuity. The practice of the chairman stepping down to take responsibility for every election defeat also means the party head changes hands too often, giving him or her no time to gain any momentum.
The DPP may have disappointed while in power, but one must remember that it was always a minority and that the majority of its members had no experience of governance when they first won in 2000. Despite this, it can be proud of many things, most notably its efforts to de-politicize the military and spread the seeds of Taiwanese consciousness.
Many members will have regrets, but the DPP was formed by fighters who have no doubt learned a lot over the last eight years. Now they need to put this experience to good use, rekindle their fighting spirit and ensure the party comes back stronger and fitter ahead of its next battle.
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