S4-E38 - Chen Shui-bian 陳水扁: From Prison to Taipei Mayor

After serving eight months behind bars for libel, Chen Shui-bian
is released in February 1987, and enters the fray of a
newly-liberalized political landscape. In 1986, the Democratic
Progressive Party became Taiwan’s first real opposition party,
and Chen’s wife is elected to Parliament.





Mr. Chen bides his time, and then pounces – first becoming a
lawmaker, beating Frank Hsieh to become DPP caucus chief, and
then setting his sights on the nation’s capital city. In 1994,
direct elections for Taipei mayor are held for the first time,
and Chen overcomes Frank Hsieh again to become the DPP
nominee. 





But Chen has a few issues: he isn’t a great speaker and he
doesn’t like smiling. Will this plucky lad from a dirt-poor home
in Tainan overcome the odds? Find out in this week’s exciting
Formosa Files Taiwan history story.





Pics, links and more at formosafiles.com