By Chris Wang / Staff reporter
Former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairperson Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) office yesterday said it had no further comment on a “groundless” report that Tsai would run for the DPP chairmanship in May’s election.
In a story headlined “Tsai to run for DPP chair,” the Chinese-language China Times yesterday quoted an unnamed DPP member as saying that Tsai had decided to run for the party’s top post, while quoting Tsai’s spokesperson Hung Yao-fu (洪耀福) as saying that the speculation was incorrect.
Tsai’s office said there was no need for further comment because Hung had dismissed the report.
“The office is concentrating on issues and policies on local economies, industrial upgrading, social welfare and charity programs in remote areas. We have yet to make an assessment on the chairman election,” the newspaper cited Hung as saying.
Both Tsai and DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) are seen as strong contenders to represent the party in the 2016 presidential election. Since Su is almost certain to seek re-election as chairman, Tsai’s next move has been a much discussed topic.
The chairmanship could be crucial for both Su and Tsai, who served as DPP chair between 2008 and last year, analysts say, because whoever is elected chairman would have the upper hand in securing the party’s presidential nomination.
Meanwhile, former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) has reportedly indicated an interest in the chairmanship race.