Former Premier Su Tseng-chang was sworn in as chairman of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party May 30, promising to lead the party in safeguarding the sovereignty of Taiwan and fostering social justice.
“Taiwan belongs to its people. Only the people—not those in power, or anyone else—have the right to decide Taiwan’s future or free, democratic way of life,” Su said during the handover ceremony in Taipei City.
Pointing out public discontent with the current government, Su said the DPP would stick to the values it has bolstered and help create a fair society with a sustainable economy.
“Everyone in the society should be treated equally and enjoy basic necessities, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity or religion,” he said.
Moreover, “Taiwan belongs the generations to come on the land,” Su said, pledging to work for comprehensive, intelligent development and a healthy education system.
Su, who defeated four other candidates in the party’s May 27 elections, took over the reins from interim Chairwoman Chen Chu, mayor of Kaohsiung City.
Former DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan Solidarity Union Chairman Huang Kun-heui and Kuomintang Secretary-General Lin Join-sane also attended the ceremony.
A founding member of the DPP in 1986, Su served as magistrate of Pingtung and Taipei counties before being appointed premier in 2006. He was defeated by Tsai in a party primary to select the DPP’s 2012 presidential candidate. (THN)