Campaigning on a platform of party reform, former two-term Taipei county commissioner You Ching (尤清) yesterday registered his candidacy for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairmanship with party headquarters.
He will stand against incumbent Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) in the chairmanship election, which takes place next month.
You paid the registration fee of NT$1.5 million out of his retirement fund, a demonstration of his determination to run and win, he said.
“Although I know it will be an extremely hard [election]… I still want to do my best and lead the party during the year-end special municipality elections,” said You, who previously served on the DPP’s Central Standing Committee and was one of the party’s founders.
You himself is also a participant in the year-end elections having announced earlier last month that he will also seek the DPP’s nomination in Sinbei City.
“If I do get elected chairperson, I will devote myself entirely to the job,” You said. However, he dodged questions raised by reporters yesterday on whether this meant that he would withdraw from the Sinbei City nomination race.
You’s announcement yesterday drew immediate fire from some DPP members and party lawmakers, with some saying that he should focus on running one election at a time.
“You wants to run for everything,” said Hsu Chieh-yuan (�?�), an official with the DPP’s Taipei City branch who protested in front of the central party headquarters in Taipei City yesterday.
Hsu added he would commit seppuku if You is elected DPP chairperson.
DPP Legislator Lee Chun-yi (李俊毅) said You should “not try to focus on doing two things at once” in case the former commissioner “ended up with nothing.”
However, some DPP heavyweights back You, with former DPP chairman Yao Chia-wen (姚嘉文) and DPP caucus whip Chai Trong-rong (蔡同榮) offering support.
If elected, You said he would aggressively pursue a policy of party reform and revise policies implemented by Tsai that allow party candidates to be chosen by a nomination team rather than through internal party polls, which he criticized as “undemocratic.”
Responding to the comments, DPP Spokesman Lin Yu-chang (林右昌) said that while the party welcomed You’s bid, it stood by existing policies, saying they had helped the DPP “become more unified and prevent internal conflict during the nomination phase.”
Tsai is expected to register her bid for re-election today.
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