Lai Appears After Announcing Presidential Bid|賴清德回台南廟宇祈福 大批群眾到場支持

Former Premier William Lai announced on Mar. 18 that he will be taking part in the Democratic Progressive Party's primary to determine its candidate for next year's presidential election. One day later, Lai appeared at a Tainan temple to pray for blessings. He said the main reason he decided to enter the primary is because he is courageously willing to shoulder the responsibility of determining and fighting for Taiwan's future.


Former Premier William Lai headed to Tainan Tian Tan Tian Gong Temple on the morning of Mar. 19. He was surrounded by supporters as soon as he alit from his vehicle.

Let's go, President Lai! Let's go, President Lai!

These supporters knew of Lai's itinerary in advance, and came prepared with signs, banners, and chants. However, Lai asked them to put the signs and banners away, because he had come to the temple solely to pray for blessings. Nevertheless, he took time to speak with his supporters after communing with the deities. He said he had decided to register for the Democratic Progressive Party's primary to determine its candidate for the 2020 presidential election because he is courageous enough to shoulder the responsibility of securing Taiwan's future. Lai is expected to use the same campaign strategies for the primary that he used when he ran for mayor of Tainan City. He will not use billboards or promotional materials, will not establish a campaign headquarters, and will not hold any campaign activities.

For this primary, the Democratic Progressive Party needs to refrain from committing the same errors it did in the past. People need to have confidence in the DPP, confidence in President Tsai, and confidence in me. This is a primary that transcends individuals and factions, because everyone is completely working for Taiwan.

Doubts about Lai's administrative coordination and problem resolving capabilities arise if his track record from his time as mayor and premier is analyzed. Controversies include the Tainan railway relocation case and housing taxes. There is also the issue of a pardon for former President Chen Shui-bian, which could become a burden of the office. Moreover, there are concerns that this primary could lead to the rupturing of the DPP. Lai therefore said party members do not need to take sides, and a good primary would display the party's spirit to the people.

No one needs to feel awkward, and factions do not need to mobilize. The organization also does not need to mobilize. Everyone should just use the opportunity to help promote President Tsai's principles or to convey my personal principles. Everyone should do their best to convey them to let everyone know that the DPP of the past is back.

President Tsai Ing-wen is expected to register for the primary before she departs for an overseas trip on Mar. 21. This means the DPP will have to face a Tsai-Lai showdown. It is expected to mediate in April. If the mediation is unsuccessful, the candidates for the primary will have the chance to explain their policy platforms from Apr. 4 to 9, and then an opinion poll will be conducted to determine the candidate. The DPP will formally nominate its candidate on Apr. 17.



行政院前院長賴清德，一到台南首廟天壇，一下車就受到大批民眾包圍。

「賴總統，加油！賴總統，加油！」

大批支持者知道賴清德要來，還自備旗幟高喊，不過賴清德一到場就要求大家把牌子、旗子收起來，強調自己這次單純祈福，參拜完後也再度對支持者喊話，重申投入黨內初選，是為台灣的未來勇敢承擔，也將延續過去參選市長時的選舉策略，初選不設廣告看板、不宣傳、不設總部、沒有造勢活動。

前行政院長 賴清德表示：「其實民進黨也需要一場初選，只要過程當中，不要犯過去的錯誤，大家對於民進黨要有信心，對蔡總統要有信心，對我也要有信心，這是超越個人，超越派系，大家完完全全，為了台灣的一場初選。」

不過細看賴清德過去地方執政以及中央政績，包括南鐵東移案、房屋稅等事件，也讓外界對於賴的行政協調與解決問題能力打上問號，加上阿扁特赦問題，是否成為執政包袱也有待觀察。另外而針對外界質疑，黨內初選恐怕造成黨分裂，賴清德也希望民進黨的黨工職，不用選邊站，好好打一場初選，充分展現民進黨的精神給人民看。

前行政院長 賴清德表示：「大家不必為難，派系也不用動員，另外組織也不用動員，大家都儘量去運用機會，幫忙宣揚蔡總統的理念，或是去傳達我個人的理念，大家儘量、去傳達，讓大家知道，過去的民進黨已經回來了。」

蔡英文21號出訪前將完成領表登記，黨內面對蔡賴之爭，民進黨4月將先進行協調，若協調不成，4月4號到9號，將舉辦初選政見發表會，再進行初選民調，採全民調方式，決定提名人選，4月17號正式提名。