DPP leaders in appeal for calm
Leaders of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday called for calm after the party's landslide victory in Saturday's local government elections.
Party heavyweights, including chairman Hsu Hsin-liang and Taipei Mayor Chen Shui-bian, said the DPP would not use its control of a majority of local governments to stir up confrontation with the Kuomintang (KMT) dominated central Government.
Mr Hsu also worked to soothe industrialists and investors after the stock market plunged on widespread fears of the DPP enacting new policies unfriendly to business.
'I think the DPP will quickly work out a policy platform and plans toward industry and the future direction of industrial development,' he said.
Mr Chen, widely tipped to be the DPP's strongest contender in the 2000 presidential election, denied reports that the 12 newly elected DPP county commissioners and city mayors would form an alliance under his leadership to challenge the authority of the KMT-led central Government.
But he urged the Government to delegate authority to local administrations.
The DPP grabbed 12 of the 23 seats in the elections while the KMT only managed to win eight.
Meanwhile, the Kuomintang held a meeting of top party cadres to review the humiliating defeat.
Outgoing Secretary-General Wu Poh-hsiung told party officials there were a variety of 'strange and odd' reasons behind the defeat.
He said 'the so-called big picture' was mostly to blame, but said party deputies needed to address shortcomings in their strategy, propaganda and organisation.
'I have received too many letters of resignation from officials in the party machine,' Mr Wu said. 'I will not process any of them. I believe the new secretary-general should process them.' He did not comment on moves to have President Lee Teng-hui ousted as party chairman.
The Kuomintang's Whip in the legislature, Chen Hung-chi, said 'from the top down' the party must assume responsibility for the setback and 'Lee should know what he has to do'.
