Mon, Aug 02, 2004 page1

• DPP faces challenges, experts say

  `DEGREE OF HYPOCRISY' The emergence of new groups, such as the Taiwan Democracy School, has highlighted a weakness of the ruling party, pundits say

  • STAFF WRITER
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  More than four years of DPP rule has revealed a certain degree of hypocrisy, and the emergence of the Taiwan Democracy School is just one indicator of how the DPP's traditional righteous image is collapsing, pundits have warned.

  Yao Jen-to (姚人多), an assistant professor of sociology at National Tsing Hua University, pointed out that the main reason the DPP attracted young voters when it was still in opposition, was its emphasis on social justice.

  "As a ruling party, the DPP still often regards itself as the party closest to young voters. But when viewing the voter structure, the reality is just the opposite," he said.

  Yao made the remarks during a symposium held by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for young party members and professionals on Saturday at the GIS International Convention Center at National Taiwan University.

  Yao also said that while the DPP's traditional righteous image is collapsing, it may instead be transferred to the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), the nation's largest opposition party.

  After the presidential election, Yao said that the DPP has appointed more young leaders than any other political party, but that this may be a false impression because many of these leaders have a background either in family or factional politics, or are media personalities parachuting into politics.

  Yao said that in order to persuade young voters to support the DPP, it should start with policy reform, such as the military recruitment system, education, and employment, rather than by launching dance parties.

  According to an analysis by Hsu Yung-ming (徐永明), an assistant researcher with Academia Sinica, presented at the symposium, the trend towards younger party leadership has been planned by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).

  The reason is that the DPP enjoys stable support among older voters but not from the 30 to 49 age group.

  The analysis also showed that the DPP's young leaders are concerned that if the DPP's public policy is shaped to attract older voters, it may suppress the opinions of young voters; thus, it can affect DPP's political advocacy and lead to worries among young leaders.

  In response to the two pundits' theories, Lee Ying-yuan (李應元), the DPP's deputy secretary-general, replied that the DPP does not suppress dissenting opinion, and that sometimes young legislators say things that do not toe the party line; this keeps the DPP from becoming corrupt.

  Lee said that the DPP administration with be under less pressure during the coming four years, and that the party would accept supervision and consider and review any criticism aimed at it.

  Lee also said that the DPP is celebrating its 18th anniversary this September, which signifies its transformation from a youngster to an adult, and that a maturing DPP should clearly plan its path and consider what it can provide the younger generation with and how to communicate with the world about what Taiwan is.

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