of the Democratic Progressive Party. If he does, it will be the second time Chen has called the shots as the party's leader. Asked by an accompanying press corps at Tachia, in central Taichung, who would be the best choice as DPP chairman, Chen pointed to his vice president Annette Lu who was right beside him and said the best party chairman has to be "a volunteer worker."
By pointing to Annette Lu, President Chen did not mean she was the best choice.
Chen laid down three qualifications for an ideal DPP chairman. Aside from being "a volunteer worker," the president said, a good chairman of the ruling party has to be a "party worker" as well as a "long-term (bonded) worker."
That means the new party leader has to work extremely hard without expecting any reward.
Another qualification is the ability to function as a "pail hoop," President Chen said. By that he meant "a good coordinator."
Still another is the capability to work as a "palanquin carrier." "The party chairman is not the man to sit on the sedan chair," Chen warned. "He has to carry it (together with other carriers)," he said.
But DPP leaders, except vice presidential candidate Su Tseng-chang, want President Chen to succeed Yu Shyi-kun as chairman.
Yu resigned after he was indicted for corruption. Yet Yu, who didn't preside over the DPP national congress Sunday, said President Chen is the best choice. He said he knew there is a move to draft Yeh Chu-lan, President Chen's secretary-general, to serve as an acting DPP chairman.
According to the DPP bylaw, the president can double as chairman, Yu said. "Chen in the saddle outright is much better than any acting chairman," he pointed out.
Lawmaker Wang Tuo, DPP legislative caucus deputy whip, said Chen must be at the helm of the party. "Consensus among the party," he stressed, "is that President Chen comes back to the DPP Central Office."
Another DPP heavyweight, Yeh Yi-tsin, agreed.
Frank Hsieh, DPP candidate for president, made no comment, however. But his running mate withheld support that had been promised.
Su Tseng-chang was told of Yu's resignation while he was about to board a plane back to Taipei. He said in an airport interview with the official Central News Agency he supports President Chen's comeback to the party headquarters as chairman.
"A new party chairman has to be one who is capable of coordination," said Su, who refused to reiterate support.
Keh Chien-ming, DPP legislative caucus whip, said the question of who should be the next party chairman would be discussed at a central executive council meeting, which takes place either on Monday or Tuesday next week.
