DPP candidate vows to win 2008 presidential race
ROC Central News Agency
2008-01-13 16:01:41
Taipei, Jan. 13 (CNA) The presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) , which suffered a humiliating defeat in the just-concluded legislative elections, vowed Sunday to win the 2008 presidential race or bow out of politics.
Frank Hsieh, who is set to take the DPP helm following President Chen Shui-bian's resignation to shoulder responsibility for the ruling party's crushing defeat in Saturday's polls, said he is willing to take up the responsibility of leading the DPP to win back the people's respect.
Claiming that the opposition Kuomintang's (KMT's) winning of three-quarters of the legislative seats is a bad omen for Taiwan's democratization, as the legislature will now be controlled by one party, Hsieh said he is willing to lead the DPP in "a battle to secure Taiwan's democracy and identity" by assuming the party's leadership.
He said he will be "in full charge" of the presidential election slated for March 22 and will not shun any responsibility involved, adding that he will bow out of politics if loses.
Hsieh said that only by demonstrating the "fight to win or die" spirit can the DPP recapture the people's hearts and minds.
Acknowledging Saturday's polls as the "gravest electoral defeat in the DPP's history", Chen announced later that same day his resignation as party chairman.
Chen said he expects that a new party chairman will be selected at an extraordinary meeting of the DPP Central Standing Committee Monday.
The DPP won only 27 of the 113 seats in the new legislature, falling far short of its goal of winning at least 50 seats. The KMT, meanwhile, swept to victory with 81 seats. Other parties' candidates and an independent won the other five seats.
(By Deborah Kuo)
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