Former Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) legislator and founding party member Tsai Pi-ju (蔡壁如) said today that she has decided to run for the party’s Central Committee.
Tsai currently serves as an advisor to the Taichung City Government and has informed Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) of her resignation, she said.
TPP Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), who has been detained during an investigation into a corruption case involving Core Pacific City, sent a letter of resignation from his position as party chairman with the approval of the Taipei District Court.
Photo: Chang Hsuan-tse, Taipei Times
The TPP’s newly elected Central Committee is to decide whether to elect a new chairperson next month.
After working closely with Ko for more than 20 years, Tsai said she was disheartened when he was detained and restricted from communicating with others.
She considered continuing her role as an advisor, but colleagues and friends reminded her that she has a responsibility to the party as one of its founding members, she said.
Tsai would help build an internal consensus about what direction the party should take heading into 2026, she said.
If the party becomes stronger and its polling improves, it could save both the party and Ko, she said.
Ko’s decision to step down as chairman was made with careful consideration and out of love for the party, Tsai said.
Ko would always be chairman in her eyes and the Central Committee wants to convince him to maintain his position, but his detention has made communication challenging, she said.
Tsai said she would take good care of the party in Ko’s absence so that he could smoothly resume the role of chairman when he returns.
She also vowed to support anyone willing to step up to the challenging role of chairperson.
The party cannot be without leadership, and she would be willing to take on the role of chair herself if others supported her, Tsai said.
Tsai said that her household registration would remain in Taichung’s Cingshuei District (清水) and she would stay engaged in local affairs as promised.
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