Chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party

The chairperson of the Democratic Progressive Party is the leader of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). The incumbent chairman is Lai Ching-te, elected in January 2023.

Chairperson of Democratic Progressive Party
民主進步黨主席
Party emblem
Incumbent
Lai Ching-te
since 18 January 2023
StatusHead of party
SeatTaipei
NominatorPolitical parties
AppointerDirect party member vote
(as Opposition Party)
President assumes position
(as Ruling Party)
Term lengthTwo years, renewable once
Formation28 November 1986
First holderChiang Peng-chien
Salary$1.5 million TWD annually
Websitewww.dpp.org.tw

Chairmanship

In the early days of the DPP, the tenure of chairman was only one year. It was extended to two years in around 1990.

After amendments to the constitution of the DPP in 2000, the incumbent President of the Republic of China, if whom is a member of the Party, shall be the chairperson of the DPP upon assuming office and until the end of the tenure. When in opposition, the chairman shall be directly elected by members of the DPP with a two-year term of office, renewable once.

When vacancy of chairmanship occurs and that the remaining term of office is within a year, the Central Committee shall elect a new chair amongst themselves. Otherwise, a by-election shall be held for party members to elect a successor. Before the amendments to the constitution, the vice-chairperson shall be acting chairman during vacancy.

List

  denotes interim chairman

No.PortraitNameTerm of officeMandateParty sessionNotes
1 Chiang Peng-chien28 November 198620 December 19871986
(unopposed)
1st
2 Yao Chia-wen20 December 198730 October 198819872nd
3 Huang Hsin-chieh30 October 198820 January 199219883rd
19904th
4 Hsu Hsin-liang20 January 19924 December 1993
(Resigned)
19925thResigned after 1993 local elections defeat
Shih Ming-teh4 December 199318 July 1994Vice-chair as acting Chair
518 July 199423 March 1996
(Resigned)
19946thResigned after 1996 presidential election defeat
Chang Chun-hung23 March 199618 July 1996Vice-chair as acting Chair
(4) Hsu Hsin-liang18 July 199618 July 199819967th
6Lin Yi-hsiung18 July 199820 April 20001998
Lin Yi-hsiung – 58,560
(unopposed)
8th
7 Frank Hsieh
Chang-ting
20 April 200021 July 20022000
Frank Hsieh – 53,510
(unopposed)
9th
8 Chen Shui-bian21 July 200211 December 2004
(Resigned)
President as Party Chair10thResigned after 2004 legislative election defeat
11th
Ker Chien-ming11 December 200415 January 2005Vice-chair as acting Chair
9 Su Tseng-chang15 January 20053 December 2005
(Resigned)
2005
Su Tseng-chang – 68,406
(unopposed)
Resigned after 2005 local elections defeat
Annette Lü
Hsiu-lien

(Interim)
3 December 200515 January 2006Vice-chair as acting Chair
10 Yu Shyi-kun
(Resigned)
15 January 200621 September 2007200612thResigned amid corruption charges
Chai Trong-rong21 September 200715 October 2007Vice-chair as acting Chair
(8) Chen Shui-bian15 October 200712 January 2008
(Resigned)
President as Party ChairResigned after 2008 legislative election defeat
Frank Hsieh
Chang-ting
12 January 200820 May 2008Vice-chair as acting Chair
11 Tsai Ing-wen20 May 200817 March 2011
(Temporary leave)
200813thTemporary leave of chairwomanship to focus on 2011 presidential party primary.
2010
Tsai Ing-wen – 78,192
You Ching – 8,406
14th
Ker Chien-ming
(Interim)
17 March 201127 April 2011Vice-chair as acting Chair
(11) Tsai Ing-wen27 April 201129 February 2012
(Resigned)
Resumes chairResigned after 2012 presidential and legislative elections defeat
Chen Chu29 February 201230 May 2012Vice-chair as acting Chair
(9) Su Tseng-chang30 May 201228 May 20142012
Su Tseng-chang – 55,894
Su Huan-chih – 23,281
Wu Rong-i – 16,315
Chai Trong-rong – 12,497
Hsu Hsin-liang – 2,763
15th
(11) Tsai Ing-wen28 May 201424 November 2018
(Resigned)
2014
Tsai Ing-wen – 85,410
Kuo Tai-ling – 5,734
16thResigned after 2018 local elections defeat
President as Party Chair17th
18th
Lin Yu-chang28 November 20189 January 2019Nominated by Central Committee
12 Cho Jung-tai9 January 201920 May 20202019
Cho Jung-tai – 24,699
Michael You Ying-lung – 9,323
(11) Tsai Ing-wen20 May 202026 November 2022
(Resigned)
President as Party Chair19thResigned after 2022 local elections defeat
20th
Chen Chi-mai30 November 202218 January 2023Nominated by Central Committee
13 William Lai
Ching-te
18 January 2023Incumbent2023

Timeline

William LaiCho Jung-taiTsai Ing-wenYu Shyi-kunSu Tseng-changChen Shui-bianFrank HsiehLin Yi-hsiungShih Ming-tehHsu Hsin-liangHuang Hsin-chiehYao Chia-wenChiang Peng-chien

See also

References