William Lai Announces Bid for DPP Chairperson 賴清德FB宣示參選黨主席 已向總統報告

Vice President William Lai, who is currently being quarantined for COVID-19 announced his decision to run for the DPP chairperson via a Facebook post. He also stated that he had told President Tsai Ing-wen already.

Vice President William Lai, who is currently under quarantine due to COVID-19, announced his decision to run for the DPP chairperson vacancy via a Facebook post on the 8th. He said that he heard opinions from all party members before announcing his decision. Lai said he told President Tsai Ing-wen earlier and will go to register next week.

Lin Chun-hsien, Legislator (DPP): “He has to come out and shoulder this responsibility to be able to continue the party's rule and President Tsai's past efforts.”

Kuo Kuo-wen, Legislator (DPP): “Of course, he has a responsibility to lead the party into the future and meet everyone's expectations.”

Factions within the DPP expressed their support as soon as the news came out. However, DPP legislator Chen Ou-po had different opinions at the Central Standing Committee meeting on the 7th. He was worried that the President would resign as the party chairperson and be replaced by the Vice President as power is all concentrated in the same person. KMT Chairperson Eric Chu offered a light response to the news.

Eric Chu, KMT Chairperson: “Work hard and good luck to him.”

The DPP lost in the local elections. In addition to facing a reorganization within the party, calls for an Executive Yuan cabinet reshuffle are gradually rising. It is rumored that Premier Su Tseng-chang had a long talk with Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan on the 5th, and that Tseng was asked to serve as his deputy. The Executive Yuan confirmed through a spokesperson that the two sides had a meeting, but did not discuss cabinet personnel matters.

Lo Ping-cheng, Spokesperson, Executive Yuan: “Of course, Mayor Cheng worked hard during the election to help promote other candidates. The Premier thanked him for this. There were no discussions between the two men regarding cabinet personnel as the rumors speculated.”

Cheng Wen-tsan, Taoyuan Mayor: “Now it's time for me to do two jobs. The first is the handover of my mayoral administration. The second is reviewing our defeat and gathering opinions from all sides.”

Cheng, who was originally regarded as a popular candidate for both the Premier and party chairperson positions, was affected by his thesis controversy. In addition to making it clear that he would not run to be the party's leader, Tseng supports Lai's bid to be the DPP chairperson. He further emphasized that there is only one DPP candidate for president in 2024, which is Lai, and he will fully support him.

確診隔離中的副總統賴清德8日在臉書PO文，決定參選民進黨主席補選，他表示已經聽到各方的意見，經過向黨內民主先進同志進一步徵詢，並獲得支持，也在稍早向總統蔡英文報告，將在下週前往登記。

民進黨立法委員林俊憲表示：「要能延續黨的執政以及小英總統過去的努力，那麼他就必須出來扛這樣的責任。」

民進黨立法委員郭國文表示：「當然他有責任承擔，把黨帶向一個未來，符合大家期待。」

消息一出後，黨內跨派系表達支持，但正國會立委陳歐珀昨（7）日，在中常會則有不同意見，憂心總統請辭黨主席由副總統接任，憲政設計上權責不符，也不宜將權力都集中在同一個人身上。至於，國民黨主席朱立倫回應，則是輕輕帶過。

國民黨主席朱立倫表示：「他加油，加油。」

九合一民進黨大敗，除了黨內面臨重整，內閣改組呼聲也漸漸高漲。外傳閣揆蘇貞昌在5日和鄭文燦長談，也將邀請鄭文燦擔任副手，行政院透過發言人證實雙方有會面，但沒有談到內閣人事。

行政院發言人羅秉成表示：「當然在選前，鄭市長投入選舉輔選也非常辛苦，院長予以慰勉，沒有外傳所提到他們在談話內容裡面有涉及內閣人事的問題。」

桃園市長鄭文燦表示：「現在就是把兩個工作做好，第1個是市長任期的交接，第2個是敗選的檢討，各方面的意見要讓它呈現。」

原本被視為閣揆和黨主席熱門人選的鄭文燦，因論文案受挫轉為抬轎角色，除了明確表示不會參選黨魁，支持賴清德順利當選，更強調2024年民進黨總統人選只有一位，就是賴清德，他會全力協助。