Expressing his disappointment with the performance of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the director of the DPP's Panchiao City office Cheng Wen-chuan (鄭文泉) yesterday announced his decision to resign from the party.
Immediately following his declaration, Cheng publicized his support for Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (
Lien and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) had decided in April to team up on a single ticket representing the pan-blue camp in next year's presidential election.
"I find the DPP administration's governance record very disappointing," Cheng said of his decision to resign.
"I think the nation will have a more optimistic outlook under Lien's steady leadership," he added, endorsing Lien's bid to unseat President Chen Shui-bian (
Cheng, a DPP member for the past 11 years, assumed the DPP Panchiao office's directorial post three years ago.
He said that prior to reaching the decision to withdraw his membership, he had expressed his dissatisfaction to the DPP headquarters in person, but there was no response.
He claimed that approximately 250 DPP members in Panchiao City will follow his example and leave the party.
At a press conference held at the DPP headquarters, DPP deputy secretary general Lee Chin-yung (李進勇) said that Cheng's decision is merely a personal matter. [Cheng's party withdrawal] will not affect the DPP's unity in the run-up to [next March's] presidential election," he said.
Lee said that Cheng's decision was not surprising, given that the party's Panchiao office had not been operating well under Cheng's management.
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