TAIPEI -- Tsai Ing-wen, chairwoman of Taiwan's major opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), announced Friday that Su Jia-chyuan will be her running mate during the next Taiwanese leader election.

Su, who is currently secretary-general of the DPP, once served as magistrate of Taiwan's Pingtung County and was also in charge of the internal affairs department under the island's executive authority.

The DPP announced Tsai's own nomination for the election on April 27.

The election for Taiwan's next leader will be held in January 2012. Incumbent Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou, who is also chairman of Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang (KMT) party, will compete in the election. Wu Den-yih, chief of Taiwan's executive authority, will be his running mate.