Democratic Progressive Party chairmanship election, 2006
Encyclopedia
The Democratic Progressive Party chairmanship by-election of 2006 was held on January 15, 2006 in Taiwan
. It was the tenth chairmanship election conducted by the party. In December 2005, chairperson Su Tseng-chang
resigned as a result of failing to win ten of the twenty-three positions in the 2005 local elections.
withdrew her campaign. Only three candidates formally announced their bids for chairperson:
Yu won the race with over 54% of the votes. However, the voter turnout
was only 19.96%, the lowest turnout in the party's history. This was significantly different from the 2005 Kuomintang election, which had a voter turnout of 50.17%.
It is commonly believed that Yu's successful campaign symbolized the fact that President Chen Shui-bian
's Justice Alliance was still in power within the party. After Su Tseng-chang
, also a member of the Justice Alliance, was appointed the premier, his term was relatively more stable as a result of the mutual cooperation between the three leaders.
On the other hand, former chairperson Lin Yi-hsiung
left the party as a result of the loss of Wong Chin-chu.
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. It was the tenth chairmanship election conducted by the party. In December 2005, chairperson Su Tseng-chang
Su Tseng-chang
Su Tseng-chang is a Taiwanese politician of the Democratic Progressive Party. He is the former Premier of the Republic of China. Su actively campaigned for the Presidential nomination of the DPP, but finished second to Frank Hsieh in the nomination process...
resigned as a result of failing to win ten of the twenty-three positions in the 2005 local elections.
Candidates
There were many hopefuls that publicly expressed their desire for the chairmanship. These politicians withdrew after acting chairperson Annette LuAnnette Lu
Annette Lu Hsiu-lien , was the Vice President of the Republic of China from 2000 to 2008, under Chen Shui-bian. She announced her intentions to run for President of Taiwan on March 6, 2007, but withdrew in order to support DPP presidential nominee, Frank Hsieh...
withdrew her campaign. Only three candidates formally announced their bids for chairperson:
- Chai Trong-rongChai Trong-rongChai Trong-rong , sometimes known in English as Trong Chai, is a Taiwanese politician. He is currently a member of the Legislative Yuan, the national legislative body of the Republic of China ....
, former president of the WUFIWorld United Formosans for IndependenceThe World United Formosans for Independence , also known as WUFI, is an organization promoting Taiwan independence. It was established in 1970 by like-minded organizations in Canada, the U.S., Japan, Europe, and Taiwan...
, former legislator, and former chairperson of Formosa TVFormosa TVFormosa TV is a television station based in Taipei, Taiwan. Established on March 27, 1996, FTV began broadcasting on June 11, 1997.The station was wholly owned and operated by the Democratic Progressive Party. Due to this, its news programs are often of a Pan-Green perspective...
, was the first to register candidacy. He was supported by the Welfare State Alliance, which was led by Frank HsiehFrank HsiehFrank Hsieh Chang-ting is a Taiwanese politician of the Democratic Progressive Party in the Republic of China. He was the mayor of Kaohsiung City until his appointment as President of the Executive Yuan by president Chen Shui-bian on February 1, 2005. He announced his resignation from the post of...
, along with foreign minister Mark ChenMark ChenMark Chen Tang-shan , born September 16, 1935, in Tainan County , Taiwan, is a Taiwanese politician, former Secretary-General of the Office of the President of the Republic of China under ex-President Chen Shui-bian. He was also previously Foreign Minister of the ROC from 2004 to 2006...
and vice president Annette LuAnnette LuAnnette Lu Hsiu-lien , was the Vice President of the Republic of China from 2000 to 2008, under Chen Shui-bian. She announced her intentions to run for President of Taiwan on March 6, 2007, but withdrew in order to support DPP presidential nominee, Frank Hsieh...
. - Yu Shyi-kunYu Shyi-kunYu Shyi-kun , a Taiwanese politician of the Democratic Progressive Party, is a former chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan. He previously served as Premier of the Republic of China from 2002 to 2005...
, former Presidential Office secretary-general, former magistrate of Yilan County, and former premier, officially launched his campaign on December 18. He was endorsed by the Justice Alliance, which included President Chen Shui-bianChen Shui-bianChen Shui-bian is a former Taiwanese politician who was the 10th and 11th-term President of the Republic of China from 2000 to 2008. Chen, whose Democratic Progressive Party has traditionally been supportive of Taiwan independence, ended more than fifty years of Kuomintang rule in Taiwan...
. - Wong Chin-chuWong Chin-chuWong Chin-chu , a Taiwanese politician, is a member of the Legislative Yuan. She served as the magistrate of Changhua County from 2001 to 2005. With former chairperson Lin Yi-hsiung's support, Wong ran for the chairperson of the Democratic Progressive Party in the 2006 election...
, former legislator and former magistrate of Changhua CountyChanghua CountyChanghua County is the smallest county in Taiwan located on the westside of Taiwan. It is officially governed as a county of the Republic of China .-Urban townships:# Beidou Township # Erlin Township...
, was the last to register. Wong Chin-chu, who left the New Tide faction, was not supported by any of the factions, but was endorsed by former chairperson Lin Yi-hsiungLin Yi-hsiungLin Yi-hsiung who sued the ruling KMT party for electoral fraud. Lin was elected a member of Taiwan Provincial Assembly in Guo's old electorate in 1977.-Lin Family Massacre:...
.
Results
Voter turnout
Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election . After increasing for many decades, there has been a trend of decreasing voter turnout in most established democracies since the 1960s...
was only 19.96%, the lowest turnout in the party's history. This was significantly different from the 2005 Kuomintang election, which had a voter turnout of 50.17%.
It is commonly believed that Yu's successful campaign symbolized the fact that President Chen Shui-bian
Chen Shui-bian
Chen Shui-bian is a former Taiwanese politician who was the 10th and 11th-term President of the Republic of China from 2000 to 2008. Chen, whose Democratic Progressive Party has traditionally been supportive of Taiwan independence, ended more than fifty years of Kuomintang rule in Taiwan...
's Justice Alliance was still in power within the party. After Su Tseng-chang
Su Tseng-chang
Su Tseng-chang is a Taiwanese politician of the Democratic Progressive Party. He is the former Premier of the Republic of China. Su actively campaigned for the Presidential nomination of the DPP, but finished second to Frank Hsieh in the nomination process...
, also a member of the Justice Alliance, was appointed the premier, his term was relatively more stable as a result of the mutual cooperation between the three leaders.
On the other hand, former chairperson Lin Yi-hsiung
Lin Yi-hsiung
Lin Yi-hsiung who sued the ruling KMT party for electoral fraud. Lin was elected a member of Taiwan Provincial Assembly in Guo's old electorate in 1977.-Lin Family Massacre:...
left the party as a result of the loss of Wong Chin-chu.
| Candidate | Total votes cast | Percentage of vote |
|---|---|---|
| Yu Shyi-kun Yu Shyi-kun Yu Shyi-kun , a Taiwanese politician of the Democratic Progressive Party, is a former chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan. He previously served as Premier of the Republic of China from 2002 to 2005... (W) |
25,397 | 54.4% |
| Chai Trong-rong Chai Trong-rong Chai Trong-rong , sometimes known in English as Trong Chai, is a Taiwanese politician. He is currently a member of the Legislative Yuan, the national legislative body of the Republic of China .... |
16,846 | 36.1% |
| Wong Chin-chu Wong Chin-chu Wong Chin-chu , a Taiwanese politician, is a member of the Legislative Yuan. She served as the magistrate of Changhua County from 2001 to 2005. With former chairperson Lin Yi-hsiung's support, Wong ran for the chairperson of the Democratic Progressive Party in the 2006 election... |
4,406 | 9.4% |
| Voter turnout | 19.96% | |