Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) vice presidential candidate Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) voiced his support yesterday for President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) to assume the party chairmanship after Chairman Yu Shyi-kun's resignation.
The call came after Yu offered to resign following his indictment -- along with Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) and National Security Council Secretary-General Mark Chen (陳唐山) -- on charges of corruption and forgery on Friday over his special allowance fund.
Yu was charged with claiming reimbursements worth NT$2.3 million (US$70,000) with 516 fraudulent receipts collected by his wife, Yang Pao-yu (
"It is true that the party would be stronger and better integrated in terms of campaign strategy if the president were the chairman," Su told reporters yesterday morning as he returned from St. Lucia, where he served as Chen's envoy.
DOUBLE
The DPP caucus on Saturday urged Chen to consider doubling as DPP chairman.
Yu, who was campaigning for the party in Toronto at the time, faxed his intended resignation late on Friday night, but added on Saturday that he would not leave his post until after the party's 21st anniversary and national congress, scheduled for Sunday.
Yu had said on Monday he would like to fulfill his responsibilities and oversee the holding of the two major events.
CRITICISM
This, however, drew criticism and speculation from DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh's (
Hsieh's camp has questioned the timing of the passing of the draft, fearing it could scare off voters.
Yu had begun seeking endorsement for a proposed amendment to a draft of the resolution passed by the DPP Central Executive Committee on Aug. 30, which only stated the party should correct the nation's name and write a new constitution as soon as possible.
Su yesterday cautioned Yu, saying that he should not be obstinate on the matter.
"Seeking normalization of the country and of the governmental system is the right approach, but this approach should be discussed through a democratic, collegiate system within the party rather than decided by an individual," he said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Presidential Office Secretary-General Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) declined to comment on a meeting between Chen Shui-bian and Yu at the Presidential office yesterday, saying it was a private matter between the two.
Yu, who entered the Presidential Office at approximately 10am, told reporters after the meeting that he and Chen had talked about the party's "normal country resolution" but had not discussed his resignation.
In addition to the resolution, Yu said they had talked about campaigning affairs concerning next year's legislative and presidential elections.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old