DPP Picks ‘Worker for Taiwanese Independence’ as New Leader

  • Party names Vice President William Lai as its next chairman
  • Political jockeying starts ahead of presidential vote in 2024
William LaiPhotographer: Lam Yik Fei/Bloomberg
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Taiwan’s ruling party has chosen Vice President William Lai as its next chairman, putting the self-described “political worker for Taiwanese independence” in line to be a top challenger in the next presidential election.

Lai won 99.65% of the total vote in an uncontested election, the Democratic Progressive Party said in a statement, securing the position that Tsai Ing-wen used as a springboard to the presidency.