Hsieh plays down report about resignation twist

The Liberty Times said that after tendering his resignation as DPP chairman Wednesday, Hsieh met with Chen, during which they decided to have Chang fill in the chairman post.

According to the paper, Hsieh told Chen he would personally ask Chang to take the post.

But it turned out that Hsieh did not talk to Chang and instead announced that he accepted the party’s request to stay on until the May 25 chairman election. The paper said Hsieh decision surprised Chen and other high-ranking government officials.

Hsieh admitted that he had talked to Chen and many other people after losing the March 22 presidential election, and each of them had given him some advice. “What the papers say about these individual meetings is not necessarily true,” he said.

Cabinet Secretary General Chen Ching-chun said the premier lauded Hsieh for his courage to continue leading the party. The premier hopes there can be an end to unnecessary speculations, the top aide said.

Asked if Hsieh had asked Chang to become acting DPP chairman, Chen said he did not hear the premier mention anything about it.

He said what the DPP needs now is sweeping reform. Former Premier and DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun said he respects the party’s decision to have Hsieh stay on. Yu said as he has already headed the Cabinet and the party before, it will be unsuitable for him to run for the DPP chairman post again.

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