Former Taiwanese premier Su Tseng-chang has formally announced his intention to run in Taipei's year-end mayoral election, prompting speculation he is positioning himself for the 2012 presidential race.
Su, a top contender for the opposition Democratic Progressive Party in the city's mayoral election in December, announced his plan to contest the blue-camp stronghold at a rally with his supporters after a temple visit yesterday.
Su, 63, is a former two-term magistrate of Taipei county, which will be upgraded and renamed the city of Sinbei by the end of this year.
His announcement followed the first meeting of a nomination team set up by DPP chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen on Tuesday. It made no decision about the nominees for December's five special municipality elections.
Also on Tuesday, DPP Secretary General Su Jia-chyuan said the party would respect personal wishes when filing the nominations.
Su, one of the DPP heavyweights who may compete with Tsai for the DPP nomination to run for president in 2012, pledged yesterday to serve out his term if he is elected Taipei mayor and give up the presidential election.
'Some people said I should run for the 2012 presidential election directly, but I think the DPP should go back to the grass roots and the people after it lost its status as a ruling party,' he said.