Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) became the acting chairperson of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on Wednesday after a party committee meeting, following President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) resignation as DPP chairperson on Nov. 26 to shoulder responsibility for the party’s election rout.
The DPP’s Central Standing Committee met on Wednesday to elect its acting chairperson, which was carried out by nomination.
During the meeting, a “review panel for the 2022 local elections” was also created.
Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che (黃偉哲) said before the proceeding that he would nominate Chen.
Asked to comment on the DPP chairperson by-election set to be held in January, Huang said that the ideal candidate would be someone who could command the largest amount of support within the party.
Meanwhile, DPP legislative caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) called on his fellow party members not to assign blame on certain individuals for the party’s election loss.
“We are all to blame,” Ker said, adding that it is time for mid-generation DPP figures to shoulder responsibility to lead the party as it regroups from its election defeat.
Keelung Mayor Lin Yu-chang (林右昌) said transitions of political power were the norm in a democratic political system.
Lin, who was elected as acting DPP chairperson after the party suffered a similar crushing defeat in the 2018 local elections, said the DPP needs to regain the public’s trust and support by convincing them of the future contributions it could make, just like it did four years ago.
At a post-meeting news conference at the DPP headquarters, Chen outlined three major tasks he would undertake as acting DPP chairperson.
First, he would carry out efforts to enable the DPP to engage in introspection, to make sure that criticisms and suggestions from the public are heeded.
To achieve this, he would ask Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦), who was elected convener of the review panel, to canvass public opinion and adjust the DPP’s election strategies, he said.
Second, he would ensure that preparations will be carried out for the Chiayi mayoral election and the legislative by-election for Taipei’s Zhongshan-Northern Songshan electoral district.
The DPP has nominated former lawmaker Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) to represent it in the Chiayi mayoral election, which was postponed to Dec. 18 after a candidate died in early November.
The party is expected to announce on Wednesday evening its candidate for the legislative by-election in Taipei, scheduled for Jan. 8, to fill the seat left vacant by Taipei mayor-elect Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安).
Third, he would oversee efforts to organize the DPP chairperson by-election, he said.
When asked if he would run for DPP chairperson, Chen said: “No.”
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel