Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday said she would continue to “listen carefully” to dissenting opinions over the party’s list of -legislator-at-large candidates released last month, but maintained that the nominations were final.
Some have complained that the list, which was approved by a party committee on June 30, does not include enough civic representatives and has too many career politicians, including three of her former spokespersons.
Earlier in the day, the Taiwan Democracy Watch, an umbrella -organization of civic groups, said it was “surprised” by the DPP nominations and that the party had missed an opportunity to include several civic figures that would have broadened its base.
Photo: CNA
Despite refusing to discuss individual names, the organization is believed to have been referring to people such as DPP Legislator Huang Sue-ying (黃淑英), a women’s equality advocate, who was not included in the top 16 places — considered the “safe list” — of the DPP at-large roster, making her re-election unlikely.
Party officials have pointed to the lack of guaranteed spots — the DPP elected 14 out of 34 nominated legislators-at-large in 2008, but is looking to gain at least two more seats next year — as the reason why several influential politicians and highly ranked lawmakers were also left off the safe list.
Huang, a two-term at-large legislator, was given top marks last month by the non-partisan Citizen Congress Watch, a legislative watchdog, for her work on the legislature’s Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee.
Speaking at a discussion organized by the Taiwan Democracy Watch, Academia Sinica researcher Wu Nai-teh (吳乃德) said that seasoned politicians on the roster should have run in local elections, leaving the at-large seats for activists and civic representatives who might not otherwise have a chance to be elected.
“Nominating civic figures as -legislators-at-large is a symbolic move and provides different avenues for a party to develop itself,” said Wu, a sociology research fellow. “It is wrong to believe that these people, just because they represent the disadvantaged, will not make good politicians.”
While the safe list does include civic figures such as Legislator Chen Chieh-ju (陳節如), an advocate for the disabled who was listed as No. 1 for the second time, critics said that most other spots on the safe list went to long-time politicians such as Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁), a DPP spokesperson; Lee Ying-yuan (李應元), a former party deputy secretary-general; former lawmaker and close aide of former premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) Wu Ping-jui (吳秉叡); DPP caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) and former lawmaker Tuan Yi-kang (段宜康).
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College