Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Yu Shyi-kun's appointment of DPP Legislator Chai Trong-rong (蔡同榮) to take over as acting chairman while he prepares for the party's presidential primary has aroused rumblings within the party as several members criticized his failure to first seek the consent of ranking party officials.
The party formally announced that Yu had appointed Chai as acting chairman while he is on the leave for the election around midnight on Wednesday.
The party did not make the announcement right after the party's Central Standing Committee (CSC) meeting earlier that day, nor was the appointment included in the meeting's agenda, prompting speculation of an under-the-table deal between the two.
When approached by reporters yesterday, Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), a committee member and a DPP presidential hopeful, said the party had a democratic mechanism and the matter should be discussed in the CSC meeting next week.
"I'm sure no one would dare violate [the democratic mechanism]," he said.
"I think everyone should deal with the matter properly. The DPP has its own mechanism and Chairman Yu will handle the procedure well," he added.
Based on the party's rules, when the chairman's post becomes vacant and there is less than one year remaining in the term, the new chairman should be elected from the party's Central Executive Committee members. If there is more than a year remaining in the term, a general election should be held.
In case the party chairman asks for leave, the secretary-general will take charge of party affairs and carry out the decisions handed down by the Central Standing Committee and the Central Executive Committee.
Criticizing Chai's appointment, DPP Legislator Cheng Yun-peng (
He urged Chai to resign as acting chairman, as this would have a "negative influence on the party's image.
Cheng added that Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hung Hsiu-chu (
Former DPP Legislator Shen Fu-hsiung (
Chai, however, denied that he had reached any secret deal with Yu, adding that he did not learn of the appointment until early yesterday morning.
"Some people may favor me as the acting chairman while some may not. Whether or not I'm suitable is an issue that can be discussed," he said.
"But I am willing to take the challenge. I did not seek the position, but I will not chicken out now that I have been chosen," he added.
In response to party members' criticism, DPP Secretary-General Lin Chia-lung (
Lin said there was nothing improper in selecting Chai for the post because Chai is a senior party member who understands party affairs.
Vice President Annette Lu (
"Chai's term as acting chairman will end when the DPP nomination process concludes on May 20. It is not too long," Lu said.
"Moreover, Chai participated in the [last] election for DPP chairman and won the second-highest number of votes. I'm sure he can handle the job," Lu said.
Lu added that even if Yu won the nomination to represent the party in the presidential election next year, there would still be a year left in his term, allowing the party plenty of time to elect a new chairman.
"As far as I can see, I think Chai taking over as acting chairman is fine," she said.
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