Chen Chu, 62, mayor of the southern port city of Kaohsiung, Taiwan, was elected the acting chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Taiwan Wednesday.

Chen announced Wednesday that her first task is to stabilize the situation after the DPP lost the January election in Taiwan, and to calm the mood of DPP members, according to the Taiwan-based Central News Agency (CNA).

Chen also said she plans to make her work as the mayor a priority, and expressed thanks to Tsai Ing-wen, the former chairman of the DPP who resigned her post after the Taiwan leadership election, for her efforts and contribution to the party.

She said she plans to help the DPP recover courage and to explore a brighter future as soon as possible.

Experts said Chen's election well help to realize a peaceful transition of the DPP before it formally elects its chairman in May.

"As a senior member of the DPP, she outranks and has a good relationship with other DPP members. She also has a good reputation. She will push the DPP to have their formal chairman election in May," said Hu Shiqing, a vice director of the Institute of Taiwan Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Tsai visited Chen three times in the past month lobbying her to consider taking the position.

According to Hu, Chen will continue along Tsai's political route to make preparations for her return to the political stage in the future, while Chen's success in the interim elections also fulfills Tsai's expectations.

Chen will take over Tsai's job on February 29, and the DPP will hold its formal chairman election on May 27, the CNA reported.