The incoming ruling Kuomintang (KMT), which returns to power today after eight years, urged the DPP to engage in positive and rational interaction with the new government for the well-being of the people.

Tsai, a former vice premier, became the beleaguered DPP's first female leader in 22 years, as she decisively won the chairmanship election Sunday over Koo Kuan-min, a former pro-independence presidential adviser.

Tsai, 52, is taking over the helm of the DPP at a difficult time for the party, which was resoundingly defeated in all major elections held in recent years, including the humiliating defeats in the Jan. 12 legislative election and the March 22 presidential poll.

The party is also faced with a steep drop in popular support -- to an all-time low of 18 percent now -- as the DPP administration was wrought with corruption and scandals in the past eight years.

Tsai's party controls just 27 of the 113 seats in the legislature, plus just seven of the 23 city and county governments in Taiwan.

Among her toughest challenges, Tsai will have to reorganize the party's structure and streamline the staff while the party is deep in debt, according to analysts.

Party unity is another highly sensitive issue of grave concern. Tsai must close the party ranks and strengthen the party's common position, the analysts said.

Regaining the public's trust will be yet another demanding task as successive corruption scandals have gravely tarnished the DPP's image and alienated the party from supporters, they said.

Tsai said the party will continue to pursue its ideals of protecting Taiwan's young democracy and promoting social equity.

She also said she is willing to go to China to meet with Beijing leader Hu Jintao to clarify the issue of Taiwan's sovereignty.

Ker Chien-ming, leader of the DPP legislative caucus, said Tsai must step up efforts to integrate various factions within the party.

William Lai, another DPP legislators, lauded other party leaders for their efforts to restrain themselves and their supporters in the election campaign and thus avoid new and open factional strifes.

Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng, an influential member of the KMT, expressed the hope that the DPP will faithfully monitor the government in a rational manner and to help lift Taiwan's party politics to maturity without political ideology.

Yang Chiung-ying, a whip of the KMT legislative caucus, said the caucus respects the DPP members' choice and hopes for active and positive interaction between the ruling and opposition parties.

Wu Yu-sheng, another KMT lawmaker, said he looks forward to the DPP abandoning its radical pro-independence rhetoric and adopting a new policy line on Taiwan's future and relations with China, under Tsai's stewardship.