2008 Democratic Progressive Party chairmanship election
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}{{Infobox election
|election_name = 2008 Democratic Progressive Party chairmanship election
|country = Taiwan
|type = presidential
|flag_image = File:Green Island with White Cross.svg
|ongoing = no
|previous_election = 2006 Democratic Progressive Party chairmanship election
|previous_year = 15 January 2006
|next_election = 2010 Democratic Progressive Party chairmanship election
|next_year = 2010
|election_date = 18 May 2008
|candidate1 = Tsai Ing-wen
|image1 = {{img|filename=_|Tsai Ing-wen}}
| color1 = DC1651
|popular_vote1 = 73,865
|percentage1 = 57.1%
|candidate2 = Koo Kwang-ming
|image2 = {{img|filename=_|Koo Kwang-ming}}
| color2 = 89A654
|popular_vote2 = 48,882
|percentage2 = 37.8%
|candidate3 = Chai Trong-rong
|image3 = {{img|filename=_|Chai Trong-rong}}
| color3 = 5D2971
|popular_vote3 = 6,530
|percentage3 = 5.1%
|map_image = 2008DPPChair.svg
|map_size = 300px
|map_caption = {{legend|#dc1651|County-level units with Tsai Ing-wen leading.}}{{legend|#89A654|County-level units with Koo Kwang-ming leading.}}{{legend|#B4B4B4|Area with no party office (Lienchiang County).}}
| title = Chairman
| before_election = Chen Shui-bian
| posttitle = Chairperson of DPP
| after_election = Tsai Ing-wen
}}
The 2008 Democratic Progressive Party chairmanship election took place on May 18, 2008. The election date was announced by chairperson Frank Hsieh after losing the presidential election.
Candidates
Three members expressed their desire to run for the position:
= Chai Trong-rong =
Chai Trong-rong, first president of the World United Formosans for Independence and former legislator, announced his candidacy on April 14, 2008.{{cite web|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/04/15/2003409323 |title=Chai makes bid for DPP chair |author=Ko Shu-ling |work=Taipei Times |accessdate=2008-05-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421195720/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/04/15/2003409323 |archive-date=2008-04-21 }} He withdrew from the election on May 12 and endorsed candidate Koo Kwang-ming.{{cite press release|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/05/13/2003411823 |title=Chai pulls out of DPP leadership race |date=2008-05-13 |accessdate=2008-05-17 |publisher=Taipei Times |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523040807/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/05/13/2003411823 |archive-date=2008-05-23 }}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="600"
! colspan="4"|Endorsements |
| Name
! Former faction ! Political office ! References |
|---|
| Hsu Tain-tsair
| {{cite press release|url= http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2008/new/may/12/today-south14.htm|publisher= Liberty Times|date= 2008-05-12|accessdate= 2008-05-17|script-title= zh:選黨主席 市長挺蔡同榮|language= zh|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080520085123/http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2008/new/may/12/today-south14.htm|archive-date= 2008-05-20}} |
= Koo Kwang-ming =
During Koo Kwang-ming's campaign, he made controversial remarks towards Tsai Ing-wen about the suitability of an unmarried woman leading. He then apologized to all women in Taiwan for those statements.{{Cite news |last=Ko |first=Shu-ling |date=8 May 2008 |title=Koo apologizes for offensive remarks |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/05/08/2003411329 |work=Taipei Times}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="600"
! colspan="4"|Endorsements |
| Name
! Former faction ! Political office ! References |
|---|
| Chai Trong-rong |
| Chen Shih-meng
| | Secretary-General of the Presidential Office | {{cite press release|url= http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/04/26/2003410312|title= Chen Shih-meng supports Koo’s chairmanship bid|date= 2008-04-26|accessdate= 2008-05-17|publisher= Taipei Times}} |
| Shieh Jhy-wey
| N/A | Minister of the Government Information Office | |
= Tsai Ing-wen =
Tsai Ing-wen, former vice premier and former chairperson of the Mainland Affairs Council, won support from many local executives and decided to launch her campaign. She earned endorsements from Chiayi County magistrate Chen Ming-wen, Kaohsiung mayor Chen Chu, Tainan County magistrate Su Huan-chih, and Yunlin County magistrate Su Chih-fen.{{cite web|url=http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2008/new/may/3/today-center1.htm|title=民進黨黨魁之爭 蘇治芬挺蔡英文|work=Liberty Times|accessdate=2008-05-02}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="600"
! colspan="4"|Endorsements |
| Name
! Former faction ! Political office ! References |
|---|
| Chen Chu
| New Tide | {{cite web|url=http://www.libertytimes.com/2008/new/may/1/today-p8.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103161807/http://www.libertytimes.com/2008/new/may/1/today-p8.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-01-03 |title=蔡英文拜票 陳菊、蘇煥智相挺 |work=Liberty Times |accessdate=2008-05-02 }} |
| Chen Ming-wen
| N/A |
| Su Huan-chih |
Results
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |
| Candidate
! Total votes cast ! Percentage of vote ! References | |
|---|---|
| Tsai Ing-wen | 73,865
| 57.1% | rowspan="4"|{{cite web|url=http://www.dpp.org.tw/news_content.php?sub_menu=43&sn=2652 |title=第12屆黨主席選舉投(開)票數統計表 |accessdate=2008-05-18 |work=Democratic Progressive Party |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080628212429/http://www.dpp.org.tw/news_content.php?sub_menu=43&sn=2652 |archive-date=2008-06-28 }} |
| Koo Kwang-ming | 48,882
| 37.8% |
| Chai Trong-rong | 6,530
| 5.1% |
| Voter turnout | colspan="2" | 51.1% |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Democratic Progressive Party Chairmanship Elections}}
Category:2008 elections in Taiwan
Category:Democratic Progressive Party chairmanship elections