Ko Wen-je, chairman of the Democratic Party of China (DPJ) , was granted permission by the Taipei District Court to submit a statement of resignation, but party secretary-general Zhou Yuxiu, the recipient of the statement, said on the 23rd, no letter has yet been received, and he insisted he would do everything possible to retain KO Wen-je. On the 23rd, Tsai Bi-ru, a former representative for public opinion who has just decided to run for the Democratic Party of China (DPJ) central committee next year and now a municipal adviser in Taichung, said she was “Willing to shoulder responsibility” and offered her resignation to Taichung’s mayor, Lu Xiuyan. The China times said Mr Tsai was “Willing to take over as party chairman” and that his resignation would not rule out a bid to become the party’s deputy chairman and run for chairman, adding that he was “Resigning to save Ko Wen-je”. But the move drew criticism from people in the Democratic party, saying that cai“Can not wait, too hasty.”.
Picture shows Taichung Municipal Advisor Tsai Bi-ru (left) and Democratic Party chairman KO Wen-je, file picture: Taiwan’s Union daily
Last week, a Taipei District Court reportedly allowed KO Wen-je, the Democratic Party chairman, to send a letter revealing that it contained a resignation letter from the party chairman addressed to party secretary-general Zhou Yuxiu. Chou criticised him for not receiving the letter as an addressee, but it seemed that the world had seen it, “Has Taiwanese justice ever been fair to the Democratic Party of China?” Moreover, he wanted Ko Wen-je to stay. The most important thing for the party at this point, he said, would be to try to get Ko Wen-je out of jail in light of the post-indictment situation.
Cai, who announced her decision to run for the Democratic Party’s Central Committee, resigned as a municipal adviser in Taichung on the 23rd, saying that “Regardless of whether she is elected to the central committee or not, she will not hesitate to do so”, the report said. Ms Tsai has sent her message to the mayor of Taichung via messaging software and will meet him face-to-face when the mayor is free. As for whether the party chairman will be elected, it is reported that Cai Biiru believes that it is easiest to retreat and escape, and he will not be scolded. However, he should be brave and take responsibility at this time. Perhaps the Democratic Party will be stronger and the polls will rise, and it can be saved by the Democratic Party, and KO Wen-je.
She also said that KO Wen-je’s decision to resign as the Democratic Party’s chairman was a deliberate decision made out of deep love for the party, and that she respected the party’s unanimous desire to console KO Wen-je, and that representative Huang Kuo-chang would step in as party chairman, and she will support it.
The report also said that regarding Cai Biru’s claim that she had expressed her resignation to Lu Xiuyan, Lu Xiuyan said on the morning of the 23rd that currently Cai Biru has not talked to her, nor has she received any news of her resignation, but there are certain legal provisions for civil servants to engage in politics on the island, if individual civil servants wish to enter politics, they are required to comply with the relevant regulations after expressing their views. On the 23rd, the Taichung Municipal Secretariat responded to whether Cai had resigned as a consultant of the Taichung Municipal Government, which has yet to be confirmed.
Jiang Heshu, a member of the Democratic Party’s Central Committee and Head of Taichung’s ruling Communist Party, said Ms Tsai would be eligible to run for the Central Committee, but was now talking about acting party chairman, according to Taiwan’s central news agency, the Democratic Party would be torn apart. If Tsai did, “I really can’t accept it.”. Party insiders also said that Tsai’s claim was so wrong that he once said he had no party post and did not want to return to the Democratic Party, and now he wants to do so again. Party insiders have criticised Mr Tsai for talking about acting party chairman when Mr Ko Wen-je was in trouble, saying he was running counter to the majority of the party’s public opinion, feeling impatient and hasty, and that the whole party was in line, “Only she went in different directions.”.
Earlier reports said KO Wen-je had been detained for nearly four months in connection with the Beijing case and the political donations case. He recently submitted his resignation statement to Zhou Yuxiu through a lawyer’s application, in which he wrote, “We can not allow the authorities to interfere with the development of the Democratic Party of Taiwan with lengthy legal procedures. I have already offered to resign as the party’s chairman, but the prosecutor did not agree, and the delay has lasted until now.”. China Times said KO Wen-je’s resignation was a “Shock and awe” for the party. The future of the popular party is bound to face the selection of deputy chairman, or even change the party chairman of the problem, “At this time of power restructuring, the parties will be vulnerable to conflict.”.