By Chris Wang / Staff Reporter
The loss in the presidential election marked the end of a great run, but also a new beginning, because the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) will continue to reform and looks to rise again in four years’ time, DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said yesterday in Chiayi City.
Tsai visited Chiayi City, Yunlin County and Changhua County on the second day of her nine-day nationwide “thank-you tour” to express her gratitude to voters for their support in the Jan. 14 presidential election.
It took a great collaborative effort for the DPP to bounce back from its slump four years ago, she told hundreds of supporters and local campaigners who had gathered to meet her at a tea party.
“Despite the loss, the DPP is now well aware that it should continue grassroots cultivation of local communities and dominate the policy agenda for the next four years,” she said.
The 56-year-old tendered her resignation after the election and will step down as party chairperson on March 1.
She smiled at supporters who chanted “one more time” to express their wish for her to run in the 2016 presidential race, but did not comment.
In Greater Tainan, Tsai said she has high hopes for the party’s 40 legislators and its legislative caucus, because “they will be the most formidable power this party has to offer in the next four years.”
With 40 of the 113 seats in the legislature — 13 more than in the current legislative session — the DPP legislators will be able to incorporate the party’s “10-year policy guidelines” into legislation and public policy discussion, so people can understand what the DPP is all about, Tsai said.
Tsai is scheduled to visit Penghu County and Greater Taichung today and finish her trip on Sunday.