The DPP officially nominated Lawmaker Lee Chun-yi (李俊毅) as candidate. However, former Secretary General to the President and ex-Tainan County Magistrate Mark Chen (陳唐山), who is backed by jailed former President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), also made up his mind to take part in the election.

Sources within the party disclosed that Central Standing Committee Member Lo Wen-chia (羅文嘉) mulled making a proposal to conduct another popularity poll, and to decline the public support of Chen Shui-bian to avert the controversy surrounding the former DPP chairman.

Lo admitted to such an idea in an interview on Saturday, but denied the part of proposal, saying that it was an exchange of opinions within the party and that the consensus was yet to be reached.

Tainan County is the region where the DPP has most confidence in winning, said Lo. If the party is divided, the KMT is likely to be the beneficiary, leaving both Lee and Chen defeated. Therefore, Lo suggested that a new poll be conducted to offer Mark Chen a means to withdraw while saving face.

A DPP member said it is possible for the party to shelve the resolution of dispute until July or August, when the KMT confirms its candidate.

Room for negotiation is only possible when Lee as well as Chen realized that a victory is out of the question while the duo both participated in the election, said the member.

by Taiwan News, Staff Writer