The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday it would be about NT$200 million (US$6.6 million) in debt by the end of this year if projected expenditures remained unchanged.
DPP Chairman Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) told reporters after the party’s Central Standing Committee meeting yesterday afternoon that the debt included NT$160 million left over by his predecessors.
Part of the NT$160 million has been paid, leaving NT$76 million, which the party intends to pay off by the end of this year.
In addition to encouraging the public to donate money, Hsieh said he was wondering whether it was necessary to maintain staff at the current level, as there will be no elections for another 20 months.
DPP Secretary-General and Hsieh campaign manager Lee Ying-yuan (李應元) said the campaign office had broken even after the presidential election and had already paid off the NT$200 million in advertising expenses.
Hsieh and Lee made the remarks in response to a report published in the latest issue of Next Magazine, which claimed that the DPP and Hsieh’s campaign office had a combined debt of NT$400 million to NT$500 million.
CHAIRPERSON
On the election of a new party chairperson, Hsieh encouraged young party members yesterday to register for the race. The party will hold a debate for aspirants on May 10, while the election will be held on May 18.
Former premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) said yesterday that although it was “nice” to let young members who have been in the party for less than a year elect the chairman, he believed it was his duty to point out the unfairness of the measure.
Kaohsiung County Commissioner Yang Chiu-hsing (楊秋興) said the measure was “a little strange,” but added that “extraordinary times require extraordinary measures.”
Lee said it was imperative that new blood be infused into the party, adding that 20 percent of the 5 million people voting for the DPP were young people.
NAMES
Yang also dismissed speculation that the DPP’s disbanded New Tide faction would like him to run for DPP chairman.
Yang said that former Presidential Office secretary-general Chen Shih-meng (陳師孟) would make a better candidate, adding that he had talked to Chen about the idea by telephone.
While Chen told him he was not in good health, Yang said he was under the impression that Chen would agree to lead the party if party members reached a consensus.
Yang said it would be a better idea to choose the party chairman via negotiations rather than through an election because an election was bound to create animosity, which is the last thing the party needs at the moment. Hsieh and Lee expressed similar views.
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