President-elect William Lai (賴清德) has left the New Tide faction of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) out of respect for the presidential office, the faction announced on Wednesday.
The two decided to break associations following mutual discussions, New Tide chief executive officer Tuan Yi-kang (段宜康) said in a statement.
The president is not only the leader of the country, but also a symbol of unity within their party, Tuan said.
Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times
Asked whether Lai himself requested to withdraw from the faction, Tuan said that they began discussing it before the election, and it does not matter who took the initiative.
Tuan added that it would be better for the country if Lai were not a member of the faction while president.
The DPP formally dissolved all factions in 2006, but they remain active unofficially.
Although their operations tend to be opaque due to the ban, Lai was widely known to be a member of the New Tide, the largest and most powerful of the factions.
Additional reporting by CNA
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