While the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is divided over whether DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun should resign following his indictment on corruption charges, Taiwan Society secretary-general Lo Chih-cheng (羅致政) yesterday said the group was more concerned about whether Yu's proposed amendment to the "normal country resolution" would pass at the DPP's National Congress than about whether Yu would resign.
The DPP's Central Executive Committee passed its "normal country" resolution draft on Aug. 30, highlighting the need for the nation to hold a referendum at an appropriate time on independent statehood.
The draft, however, did not say that "Taiwan" should be the national title, but only stipulated that the nation should correct its title and write a new constitution as soon as possible.
Yu has said the party should specifically use "Taiwan" as the national title to "declare to the international community that it is an independent sovereignty."
The DPP's National Congress is scheduled to discuss Yu's proposal on Sunday.
While DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh's (
Lo said that Yu should stay on as DPP chairman until the National Congress votes on the proposal because no other DPP leader would be as determined as Yu to push the amendment through.
Lo also urged party members to vote using open ballots to make their position known.
Although Yu had earlier said he would step down if indicted, Lo said Yu should consider the effects of resigning.
If Hsieh is indicted in other cases, Lo said, Hsieh would then come under pressure to withdraw from the presidential race.
Some DPP members have urged President Chen Shui-bian (
Lo said Chen should focus on leaving a legacy during the remainder of his term rather than spend time on figuring out how to help the party win next year's presidential election.
Chen can now tell the US that it was not the government but the DPP that initiated the UN referendum, but he would lose this advantage if he also served as party chairman, Lo said.
Moreover, if the DPP were to lose seats in January's legislative election, Chen might have to resign in accordance with party precedent, Lo said, leaving the party in disarray in the lead-up to the presidential election.
Although Yu returned to Taiwan yesterday afternoon, Lo dismissed media reports that the Taiwan Society organized supporters to welcome Yu at the airport.
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