Several Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers yesterday defended president-elect Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) decision to double as DPP chairperson, amid growing criticism that she has adopted double standards on the issue.
“Chairperson Tsai explained her decision rather clearly during Wednesday’s meeting of the DPP Central Executive Committee. She aims to achieve synchronization between party and government that is conducive to reform and political stability,” DPP caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) said.
Ker shrugged off accusations of double standards against Tsai, saying the DPP has amended its party charter to abrogate a regulation making the vice president and premier ex-officio members of the DPP’s Central Standing Committee.
DPP Legislator Tuan Yi-kang (段宜康) said even if Tsai doubles as DPP chairperson, the role she plays would be different from that of outgoing President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), who also served as Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman from October 2009 to December 2014.
“Under the amended DPP charter, Cabinet officials are exempted from doubling as party representatives. The DPP will function simply as a political party and an election machine, rather than serving as the negotiation platform for the party and the government,” Tuan said.
In light of potential intra-party power struggles that could occur should the DPP chairpersonship be left vacant by Tsai after May 20, people cannot say it is wrong that Tsai decided to double as party chair, DPP Legislator Hsu Kuo-yung (徐國勇) said.
“Although the DPP might not see power struggles as ferocious as those we have seen within the KMT, an intense competition for party leadership would not bode well for the DPP’s future,” Hsu said.
Hsu said that while doubling as party chairperson would allow the president-elect to implement her policies without too many hurdles, Tsai should nevertheless learn from Ma’s mistakes and avoid repeating them.
Tsai’s decision to double as DPP chairperson after her inauguration on May 20 has triggered heated debate and criticism on the Internet.
Some Internet users posted news reports published in June 2009, when Tsai blasted Ma for reneging on a pledge not to vie for the KMT chairmanship and justifying his decision by saying he did so only to “fulfill his responsibility rather than expand his power.”
At the time, Tsai said given that the KMT enjoyed an overwhelming three-fourths majority in the Legislative Yuan, Ma doubling as KMT chairman would allow him to gain control of both executive and legislative powers and could see the disappearance of checks and balances.
“Tsai is clearly slapping her own face,” one user wrote.
However, other Internet users held different views, saying voters could not care less about whether the president doubled as party chair as long as they delivered a stellar performance.
Meanwhile, former DPP chairman Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) took to Facebook yesterday to express his support for Tsai’s decision.
Hsieh said although the DPP has amended its party charter to exempt key Cabinet officials from holding positions on the party’s Central Standing Committee, it does not abolish the clause that makes the president the ex-officio party chairperson.
“Out of concern that Tsai not doubling as party chair could cause a complete rupture between the party and the executive branch of government, the DPP’s charter amendment group advised Tsai to remain as party chairperson,” Hsieh said.
Since the charter amendment can effectively reduce Tsai’s clout in the party, her doubling as party chairperson is expected to do more good than harm, Hsieh said, such as ensuring a smooth communication between the government and the party, and expediting the implementation of Tsai’s campaign pledges.
At a separate event, when asked by journalists for his opinion on Tsai doubling as DPP chairperson, Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) said: “I am neutral. If the DPP approves the decision, we should respect it. Every party acts according to the plan it deems most advantageous.”
He defended Tsai when asked to comment on the growing criticism that her doubling as DPP chairperson means that she has acceded Ma’s level, saying: “How could these two people be the same? They are from different parties.”
“I believe that she should try out this strategy first and if it does not work out, she can worry about it then. We should not talk pessimistically of someone when that person has not done anything yet. It is a bad part of Taiwanese culture,” Ko said.
Additional Reporting by Sean Lin
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