PARTY SOLIDARITY:Tsai made the decision after a meeting brokered by Frank Hsieh and promised full support to whoever represents the party
By Chris Wang / Staff reporter
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Tsai Huang-liang (蔡煌瑯) yesterday said he had decided to drop out of the party’s Nantou County commissioner primary next year.
Tsai’s decision, which was announced after a meeting convened by former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), leaves the primary a battle between two former lawmakers, Lee Wen-chung (李文忠) and Tang Huo-shen (湯火聖).
“Solidarity will be important for the DPP to win in the corruption-ridden central Taiwan county, which has been suffering from a high unemployment rate, a population outflow and a declining local economy,” Tsai said.
Tsai said he would offer full support to whoever wins the nomination.
Meanwhile, former vice president Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) yesterday said she has not made a final decision on whether to run in the Taipei mayoral election next year.
Dozens of borough wards met Lu and expressed their support if she decides to run.
“Taipei is a must-win constituency if the DPP is serious about notching up a convincing victory in the seven-in-one local elections, especially the mayoral elections in the six special municipalities,” she said.
“The DPP must nominate the best candidate [in Taipei], but it doesn’t have to be me,” Lu said.
If Lu entered the party primary, her opponents could be lawyer Wellington Koo (顧立雄), who has expressed his interest in the bid, and National Taiwan University Hospital physician Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), who has received strong support from DPP members.
Koo and Ko have been visiting senior DPP politicians, but neither has made official announcements about their candidacy.
Koo visited former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) yesterday afternoon at Lee’s office in Tamsui District (淡水), New Taipei City (新北市).
According to a press release issued by Koo’s office, the former president offered his encouragement and support to Koo’s possible bid.
Ko met with DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday afternoon at the DPP headquarters, but remained tight-lipped on his decision.