Opposition New Power Party (NPP) Legislator Claire Wang (???) was elected as party chairwoman, replacing Chen Jiau-hua (???) who resigned to take responsibility for the party’s poor performance in the 2022 local elections.
Wang was elected by the the party’s new 15-member decision making committee after the committee resigned along with Chen for the NPP’s poor showing last year.
At a press conference held after being elected to the party’s highest post, Wang that the NPP will not collapse just because of its setback in the 2022 local elections.
Wang will officially assume the top post March 1 for a two-year period, which ends on Feb. 28, 2025.
Wang said the NPP’s election failure last year is a warning from the public and requires the party to conduct honest and deep introspection, adding that the party will work to regain public trust.
The NPP, Taiwan’s fourth-largest political party, formed in early 2015, garnered only six city and county councilor seats out of a total of 960 during the 2022 local elections, down from 16 four years ago.
It also received only 0.61 percent of votes cast for county magistrates and mayors and 1.56 percent of total votes cast for county and city councilors.
Wang said that in the face of challenges relating to the upcoming 2024 presidential and legislative elections, she will push forward reforms, including expanding the party’s social ties, building consensus within the party, proposing viable economic policies to improve people’s livelihoods and seek support for the formation of an election campaign team.
The NPP held an election for 15 new members of the party’s decision making committee on Feb. 12.
Among the new elected members are Chen, Wang and another former NPP Chairman Chiu Hsien-chih (???).
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel