Hsieh tenders resignation as DPP chief

Hsieh announced his resignation while meeting with the party's decision-making Central Standing Committee for the first time after last Saturday's crushing defeat to Kuomintang contender Ma Ying-jeou.

"I've said that this was not a defeat for democracy, but a personal setback. I am willing to accept that responsibility," Hsieh told the CSC meeting in his resignation speech.

He also suggested four directions the DPP should consider while striving for a comeback.

He said the party has to rethink its position in the political spectrum, and recruit more young people to join its ranks.

The DPP must call an extraordinary session of its party congress, and try to play a competent check-and-balance role in the opposition, he said.

Hsieh said, "Different voices can be heard and the party's future development can be worked out through a brainstorming process" during the party congress.

"We must let the sound of reform ring out," Hsieh said.

He warned that if the party fails to overhaul itself, it "could be thoroughly marginalized."

He also publicly admitted for the first time that the notion of "Taiwan identity," which stresses the island's nationhood against rival China's sovereignty claim, may not be an effective tactic for attracting support.

Hsieh, who had made a pre-election vow to retire from politics if he lost the race, left after making the speech without attending the rest of the CSC meeting.

The CSC later decided to ask Hsieh to stay on at least until May 25 when the party elects a new chairman.

1|2|Next Page>>

SharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos Respond to this email