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Updated Monday, December 7, 2009 9:24 am TWN, R. L. Chen,The China Post

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A 'Tsai Ing-wen Line' takes shape in DPP, scholars say

The DPP managed to regain power in Yilan County while retaining the three local governments currently under its control.

DPP Legislator Kuan Bi-ling and Lo Chih-cheng, an associate professor of politics at Soochow University, both said that a “Tsai Ing-wen Line” has now taken shape.

But Kuan noted that the local election gains added more to Tsai's personal glory than to the party's credibility.

Former Vice President Lu echoed Kuan's remarks, saying the Saturday elections took place in areas covering about 40 percent of the nation's entire voter body.

The election outcome has not changed the political topography in Taiwan much, but has more impact on Tsai and Ma personally, Lu said.

The DPP victory has already fueled speculation about the chances of Tsai running in next year's Taipei mayoral election or the 2012.

Tsai would have been a spent force had the DPP failed to gain on Saturday; the party would also have been left with no candidates strong enough to mount a challenge in the next elections.

Observers said Tsai would now be faced with a dilemma if she really wanted to mount a campaign of her own rather than direct one for others.

She would make a strong rival for Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin. But if she ran and won, she might not be able to mount a challenge to Ma in 2012, the observers said.

Should she decide against running next year, she would be wasting the DPP's best chance of taking the capital city, which would be a significant victory paving the way for the party's presidential campaign.

Some DPP members are already openly urging Tsai to run in the Taipei mayoral race.

Tsai remains noncommittal. She said that nominations for the coming elections will depend on “overall deployments,” and top priority will be given to “internal harmony.”

Her personal chances and credibility will rely on her ability to win back voters' trust for the DPP.

She noted that she never used the word “victory” to describe Saturday's election gains, and the DPP will not be complacent.

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