Chiu Chien-fu Plans to Leave DPP, Run for Changhua County Magistrate; Chen Su-yueh: Unite Supporters, Listen to Public Opinion

(Central News Agency reporter Wang Yang-yu, Taipei, 5th) Chiu Chien-fu, former Changhua City mayor who lost the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) primary for Changhua County magistrate, intends to leave the party and run. DPP Changhua County magistrate candidate and Legislator Chen Su-yueh said today that she will do her best to dissuade him, but if it ultimately comes to that, she will respect it and actively unite all supporters and listen to public opinion.

Asked whether she would talk to Chiu, Chen said that after the party primary ended, she visited each competitor one by one. Given the current development, she can only ask the party to communicate.

In the Changhua County magistrate election, the DPP and the Kuomintang (KMT) have fielded Legislator Chen Su-yueh and lawyer Wei Ping-cheng, respectively. Chiu stated on the 4th that he is a founding member of the DPP with 39 years of party membership and has been preparing to run for Changhua County magistrate for 12 years. He is expected to mail his party resignation letter by registered mail next week to complete the withdrawal process.

Regarding Chiu's intention to leave the party and run, Chen said in an interview at the Legislative Yuan on the morning of the 5th that she received the nomination from the DPP central party and went through the party's primary mechanism. Regarding other party members intending to leave the party and run, "we will do our best to dissuade them." If it ultimately comes to that, she will respect it.

Chen pointed out that what she needs to do now is to unite the local area, the party, and supporters, and plan for the future development of Changhua County to respond to the needs of public opinion.

Chen said that Changhua County's population has dropped to over 1.2 million, with an overall population loss, an aging population, and the average salary of workers in Changhua County ranking the lowest in the country. Many Changhua residents are looking forward to how the future county magistrate will lead Changhua County to progress, which are the issues she is focusing on.

Chen emphasized that she will actively unite all supporters, actively listen to public opinion, and discuss with her staff to formulate good policies to respond to public opinion. (Editor: Wan Shu-chang) 1150605