Chen Chu Speaks About Taipei Mayoral Election|披戰袍選北市? 陳菊鬆口:尊重選對會

The Democratic Progressive Party is expected to announce its Taipei City mayoral candidate by the end of May. Presidential Office Secretary-General Chen Chu, Premier William Lai and Culture Minister Cheng Li-chiun are all thought to be on the list of potential candidates. Lai has refused to comment on this issue, while Chen said she will respect the party's decision, suggesting her options are open at the moment.


Presidential Office Secretary-General Chen Chu accompanied President Tsai Ing-wen on a trip to Taitung on May 17. The media asked her about the rumors that the Democratic Progressive Party may nominate her as its candidate for the year-end Taipei City mayoral election, and Chen addressed this issue for the first time.

I would think assisting President Tsai in completing societal reform for Taiwan would be the most important task to choose in this battlefield.

Chen added soldiers don't have the right to choose their battlefields, showing she is not completely ruling the possibility out. Premier William Lai is thought to be another of the possibilities, along with Culture Minister Cheng Li-chiun. She attended the opening of the National Human Rights Museum on May 18, and refused to answer any questions on this topic. Meanwhile, DPP Legislator Pasuya Yao, who has been actively seeking his party's nomination for some time, is pressing forward with his own campaign.

I am following my established procedure. This was always a process that required action and hard work. Of course it's going to be complicated, but we will work hard.

The party is expected to announce its candidate by the end of the month. Four years ago, it threw its support behind incumbent Mayor Ko Wen-je. This time, the two sides have parted ways, and Ko is gearing up for a battle.

(Will you ask Chen Yue-hsin to be your secretary-general? Or did he recommend Chen Chin-jun?) I asked him, but he said he has a job and he can't be the secretary-general. He said he will serve as a volunteer instead. He has a job, and doesn't have time to be secretary-general.

Kuomintang mayoral candidate Ting Shou-chung has already started his campaign. He says it will be a tough battle if the DPP fields Chen or Lai.

I believe it is highly likely that the DPP will field Chen Chu or William Lai, as it has said it wants to field the strongest candidate. They don't want to finish third, so they will send out the strongest candidate. I believe that if it comes down to the two of them, it will be a very fierce three-person race.