Former premier and Democratic Progressive Party chairperson Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday warned the party to be very careful if Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) decides to run in next year’s presidential election on the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) ticket.
“Wang is very friendly to everybody and is an experienced politician, who is influential in all aspects,” Su said in response to media queries about KMT officials having urged Wang to join the presidential race.
“With his experience and personal connections, the DPP should be very careful if he decides to run for president,” Su added.
Photo: CNA
Su made the remarks while accompanying his wife, Chan Hsiu-ling (詹秀齡), to the centennial celebration of Ximen Elementary School (西門國小) in Taipei City, as she is an alumna of the school.
Su said that while many DPP members and supporters might be excited over the party’s victories in last year’s nine-in-one local elections, as well as high approval ratings in recent polls, “the DPP should not be happy so early, because the KMT has a very strong organization that has been around for a long time, and has substantial party assets.”
“The KMT has many surprising campaign tactics, therefore the DPP should remain cautious,” he said.
Besides the presidential election, Su said the DPP should also put more effort into responding to public calls for constitutional reform, so that a referendum on amendment proposals could be held at the same time as the presidential election next year.
Also making an appearance at the centennial celebration, Wang thanked Su for his compliments, but said that he had not thought about whether to run for president next year.
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