Taiwan's cabinet steps down
The formal move paves the way for Chen Shui-bian to form a new government
Taiwan's cabinet resigned yesterday, clearing the way for President Chen Shui-bian to form a new government when he is inaugurated for a second term next Thursday.
Despite challenges by the opposition, which has filed a lawsuit seeking the election to be annulled, and the ongoing recount of the ballots, Premier Yu Shyi-kun and his cabinet quit on schedule.
The resignation of the cabinet is a traditional move before the inauguration.
'In the past two years and three months, the current cabinet has performed with great efficiency, and accomplished tasks even the old government could not do,' said Mr Yu. 'I am confident that the new cabinet will perform even better in the future.'
Mr Yu will remain as premier in the new 44-member cabinet, which will include 27 new faces.
The new appointments cover many of the more important government positions - including defence, foreign affairs, mainland affairs and interior affairs.
Yeh Chu-lan, former head of the Hakka Affairs Council, will become vice-premier.
'The appointment of Ms Yeh as vice-premier is part of the campaign promise made by President Chen to increase the female members of the cabinet,' said outgoing cabinet spokesman Lin Chia-lung.
The new economics minister, Ho Mei-yueh, is also a woman.
Some of the other key appointments will include:
Lin Yi-fu, who will head the Government Information Office;
Joseph Wu Jau-shieh, the president's deputy chief of staff, will replace Tsai Ing-wen as head of the Mainland Affairs Council;
Foreign Minister Mark Chen Tan-sun, who has already assumed the post previously headed by Eugene Chien You-hsin;
Admiral Lee Chieh will replace General Tang Yiau-ming as defence minister;
Former Pingtung county magistrate Su Jia-chyuan has already replaced Yu Cheng-hsien as interior minister;
Education Minister Huang Jung-tsun will be replaced by National Palace Museum director Tu Sheng-cheng, a confidant of President Chen.
Outgoing Vice-Premier Lin Hsin-yi, a former Kuomintang member who switched allegiances to Mr Chen, will leave the cabinet to make way for Ms Yeh.
The returning cabinet members include Justice Minister Chen Ding-nan, Finance Minister Lin Chuan, Transport Minister Lin Ling-san, Health Department chief Chen Chien-jen, Environmental Protection Administration director Chang Chu-en, Central Personnel Administration director Lee Yi-yang and Labour Affairs Council chairwoman Chen Chu.
