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Lawrence  Chung

Su Tseng-chang, a former DPP chief, will try to restore government image

Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian  has appointed his former chief of staff, Su Tseng-chang,  as his fifth premier in what analysts see as a bid to regain support for his government ahead of the 2008 presidential elections.

Mr Su, 58, former head of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and presidential secretary-general, will replace Frank Hsieh Chang-ting,  who will step down with the entire cabinet on Monday. Mr Su is expected to announce the  new cabinet line-up before it is formed on  Wednesday.

Analysts said Mr Chen hoped to use Mr Su, one of the four frontrunners  in the 2008 polls, to restore    the government's image, battered during Mr Hsieh's year-long term by corruption allegations.

In naming the new premier  in Taipei yesterday,  Mr Chen praised Mr Su, who was DPP chairman, for his 'shiny' political  record.

'From local to central governments, and with rich experience in administrative and party affairs, former chairman Su has strived hard from the tip of Taiwan to its tail,' the president said.

Mr Chen said Mr Su's immense popularity and capability was like a 'shining light bulb', a reference to Mr Su's nickname based on his bald head.

In Taiwan, the premier is appointed by the democratically elected president and is in charge of the cabinet, managing mostly domestic affairs, while the president sets important cross-strait, military and foreign policies.

In an apparent comparison to the incumbent premier, who was  ousted for failing to uphold the clean and honest image of the government, Mr Chen hailed Mr Su for his energetic spirit  as well as for his integrity.

The independence-leaning ruling party suffered its worst setback during the December 3 local government elections, in which the DPP was able to hold on to only six of the 23 city and county magistrate posts, while the opposition Kuomintang captured 14.

Corruption allegations and poor government performance have been cited as the main reasons for the party's humiliating defeat, which has also been seen as a vote of non-confidence in Mr Chen.

A confident Mr Su, who stepped down as DPP chairman in December to take political responsibility for the defeat, yesterday said:  'Let's work together to make Taiwan a better place.'

Mr Su is expected to name DPP legislator Tsai Ing-wen,  former head of the Mainland Affairs Council,  as his deputy. Ms Tsai has yet to say whether she will accept the post, but is seen as the best candidate because she is most able to execute Mr Chen's new hawkish mainland policy.

Mr Su would be responsible for restoring the former clean image of the government to allow the DPP to counter the challenge from the opposition KMT in the 2008 presidential polls, analysts said.

'Su is a smart guy. He has a good record of administration and integrity. He stands a high chance of representing the DPP in the 2008 presidential elections if he is able to do a good job restoring the government's image,' said Philip Yang Yung-ming,  director of Taiwan Security Research.

But analysts noted that Mr Su would have to hold on to his post until 2008 - when Mr Chen competes his second term - if he was to campaign that year.



Chen brings in trusted ally as new premier