Democratic Progressive Party Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday declined to comment on New Taipei City Mayor and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu’s (朱立倫) announcement that he would not run in next year’s presidential election, saying that it is more important for the DPP to prepare well for the campaign.
“No matter who the KMT candidate is, the DPP will use the same degree of cautiousness in its approach to the presidential campaign, especially because the result of next year’s election will be the key to Taiwan’s development, and therefore we simply cannot afford to be relaxed,” Tsai said in response to reporters’ requests for comments on Chu’s remarks as she took part in a workshop on green energy in Tainan yesterday.
She said that although there might be conflicts, disputes and other complicated issues among politicians within the KMT, it is still a party with more than 100 years of history and a lot of resources.
Photo: Su Fang-ho, Taipei Times
Tsai added that as the KMT is yet to nominate a candidate, what the DPP can do now is to prepare itself to win the election, saying such efforts began as soon as she received her nomination from the DPP last week, and “will continue after we win the election.”
The green energy platform, for example, is one example of such efforts, she said.
The green energy platform was hosted by the DPP’s regional governance platform, which is headed by Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊), and consists of DPP local government heads.
Asked about a running mate, Tsai said she is still undecided on the issue.
“It’s still too early to make the decision. I’ve neither chosen nor ruled out anyone,” Tsai said. “I might have to wait until later in the election campaign to make the decision. Of course I think about it from time to time, but I will not rush the decision.”
Speaking at the workshop, Tsai said the DPP would start to prepare for its potential role in central government at local government level, and once in power, she would coordinate local efforts to make Taiwan a better nation.
She said the purpose of the workshop was to discuss energy policies, adding that 2025 — the year which Tsai vowed to make Taiwan nuclear-free — is not far away.
Meanwhile, Tainan Mayor William Lai (賴清德) said Tsai’s frequent visits to southern Taiwan show her determination to bridge the gap between the north and south.
On the running mate issue, Lai said it is a DPP tradition to give the party’s presidential candidate full freedom to make the decision.
“Compared with 2012, Tsai has made a lot of progress. She is more confident, has a better understanding of key issues and is more passionate when facing the public,” Lai said.
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