The DPP, which was defeated by the Kuomintang in two major nationwide elections--legislative and presidential--earlier this year, is reportedly more than US$3 million in the red. As a cost-cutting measure, party headquarters was forced to downsize its floor space by half in July.
"The DPP is a party built on ideals. We will hold a series of activities around Taiwan to seek small donations, while sharing our ideals and policies with the people," Tsai said during a fundraising lunch in Chiayi County Aug. 9. "This is also an effort to reinitiate social movements and to drive forward Taiwanese democracy."
According to DPP Spokesman Cheng Wen-tsang, the "Give Strength to Democracy" campaign is expected to raise US$650,000 for the party. "The tour will also provide opportunities for people to air their grievances on local issues."
Tsai admitted that while the DPP had made mistakes during its time in power, the party's many successes should not be overlooked. "We failed, for one, to be closer to the people," she said, acknowledging the party's rise on the back of its grassroots support and progressive social movements.
At a time when the approval rating of President Ma Ying-jeou has dropped to around 35 percent and the nation's economy is slowing, political analysts commented that the DPP must do more if it is to convince the electorate it is the "best option for Taiwan" as Tsai has claimed.
Lee Hsiao-feng, a Graduate School of Taiwanese Culture professor at National Taipei University of Education, pointed out that in the past, the DPP had worked with different social groups to address the plight of the disadvantaged. "The party should rethink ways to articulate issues of the various social sectors that they tended to overlook during their time in office," he said. "Such a strategy would be far more effective than grassroots tours."
There has been dissatisfaction among some voters over the Ma administration's seeming inability to manage the economy and anger over its pro-mainland China policy, said Lo Chih-cheng, a political science professor at Soochow University. However, he added, "The DPP needs to explain why people should give it another opportunity." Lo stated that if the opposition could offer nothing more than criticism, this would hamper its efforts to reconnect with the people.
Meanwhile, Tsai said she and other DPP party members will join a rally that local pro-Taiwan groups plan to conclude in front of the Presidential Office Aug. 30--the 100th day of the KMT administration's inauguration--in protest at its domestic and foreign policies. Organizers expect tens of thousands of marchers to attend.
Write to June Tsai at june@mail.gio.gov.tw