In 2003, Chen announced a campaign to draft a referendum law as well as a new constitution, a move which appealed to the fundamentalist wing of the DPP. By now, the New Tide faction had begun to favor pragmatic approaches to their pro-independence goals and dominated decision-making positions within the party. By contrast, grassroots support was divided largely between moderate and fundamentalist wings. Though Chen's plans for a referendum on a new constitution were scuttled by the legislature, he did manage to include a largely symbolic referendum on the PRC military threat to coincide with the 2004 presidential election. President Chen Shui-bian would be narrowly re-elected in 2004 after an assassination attempt the day before the election, and in the later legislative election, the pan-blue coalition opposition retained control of the chamber.
in 2003 chen announced a campaign to draft a referendum law as well as a new constitution a move which appealed to the fundamentalist wing of the dpp by now the new tide faction had begun to favor pragmatic approaches to their pro-independence goals and dominated decision-making positions within the party by contrast grassroots support was divided largely between moderate and fundamentalist wings though chen's plans for a referendum on a new constitution were scuttled by the legislature he did manage to include a largely symbolic referendum on the prc military threat to coincide with the 2004 presidential election president chen shui-bian would be narrowly re-elected in 2004 after an assassination attempt the day before the election and in the later legislative election the pan-blue coalition opposition retained control of the chamber