Tainan Mayor William Lai has reaffirmed that he will not take part in the presidential primary of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). His comments on Saturday essentially ceded the race to DPP chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen.
Lai first made the announcement in a post on his Facebook page Friday night. He said the Tsai, the party’s presidential candidate in 2012, has long prepared for the party’s presidential nomination and enjoys strong public support. He also urged DPP members to unite behind Tsai.
Lai was seen as Tsai’s biggest potential threat within the party for the presidential nomination. Some media reports also indicated that voices inside the party urging Lai to run had been growing.
Whoever secures the DPP’s presidential nomination will be considered the favorite after the party’s resounding victory in local elections last November.
The DPP’s primary will consist of a public opinion survey of its presidential candidates. The party will make public its nominees for the 2016 presidential and legislative elections on Apr. 15.