By Chris Wang / Staff reporter
Former premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday met with former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) ahead of his scheduled registration for the party chairperson election today.
During the 60-minute meeting at Tsai’s office, the former presidential candidate gave Su her blessing and urged the former premier to stress consolidation during his election campaign, according to Su’s staff, adding that Tsai also encouraged Su to focus on policies during the campaign.
While Su only declared his bid for the chairmanship on Sunday, he has recently been visiting top DPP politicians, including former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) and former Examination Yuan president Yao Chia-wen (姚嘉文).
Su will continue to meet opinion makers and party officials nationwide, his staff said.
Meanwhile, a hint of Su’s campaign platform was posted on his Facebook page yesterday, as Su wrote he wanted to help the party regain its “founding spirit” and promote a “vision that is different from the current mindset.”
Su wrote that only selflessness and consolidation would be able to regain the public’s trust, win back the support of those who had left the party and attract more voter support for the DPP.
“And there should be no concession made on democracy, freedom and people’s rights to determine their future. The DPP’s mindset and thinking should go beyond the election in 2014 and wins and losses in specific elections,” he wrote.
Su, who is seen by many analysts and party members as the strongest candidate, is expected to lodge his candidacy today and unveil his campaign platform at a press conference.
Former Tainan County commissioner Su Huan-chih (蘇煥智) registered for the election on Monday and former vice premier Wu Rong-i (吳榮義) is also expected to do so today. Former DPP lawmaker Chai Trong-rong (蔡同榮) and former DPP chairperson Hsu Hsin-liang (許信良) might also enter the race.