The DPP has declared that seeing the hunger strikers sacrifice their bodies for the good of the people of Taiwan was a moving experience, and reiterated its support of the plebiscite principle and determination to see a plebiscite law incorporated into the constitution. However, former Taipei mayor and DPP heavyweight Chen Shuibian believes that if a plebiscite is really desired, legislation is not necessary, and that one could be called by an executive order.
民進黨中央雖然聲明，絕食者以自身肉體的折磨，換取全台灣人的公共利益，令人感動，並且重申主張公投立法、公投入憲的決心；然而前台北市長、民進黨超人氣政治明星陳水扁認為，如果真要實施公投，以行政命令為之也可以，不一定要立法。