Democratic Progressive Party

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was founded on September 28, 1986. Defying martial law  and the Kuomintang (KMT) one-party authoritarian order, the DPP initiated a new era of rapid democratic change.  Founded mainly by family members and defense lawyers of political prisoners, DPP initially consisted of dissidents who were willing to risk their freedom and their lives to transform the political situation.

Since its founding, the DPP has been at the forefront of movements demanding social and political justice. Socially, the DPP championed social welfare policies involving the rights of women, senior citizens, children, labor, indigenous peoples, farmers, and other disadvantaged sectors of the society. Politically, the DPP has led and won the battles for free speech, free press, the freedom of association, and respect for human rights. Furthermore, the DPP has also successfully pushed forth major constitutional reforms, including the abolition of martial law in 1987, the 1992 parliamentary general elections, and the direct election of the president in 1996.

Over the years, the DPP has garnered strength through each election and political movement toward more democracy and freedom. It has grown from a party of political dissenters and exiles into the largest opposition party in Taiwan until recently given DPP’s standard bearer Chen Shui-bian victory in the March 18 presidential elections thus ending KMT’s 50 year monopoly of power.

The DPP distinguishes itself from the KMT in its domestic social policies, anti-corruption stance, and effective government. Internationally, the DPP advocates greater integration into the world community, enhancing the prosperity and security of Taiwan, and helping the less fortunate.

DPP’s platform includes a legal and political order based on freedom and democracy; balanced economic and financial administration; fair and open social welfare; educational and cultural reform; and peaceful and independent defense and foreign policies.