Premier-designate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday announced more Cabinet appointments, but in an attempt to improve relations with the opposition, the important post of vice premier has been left vacant for the time being.
Hsieh said the vacancy allows the DPP more leverage in forging reconciliation with the pan-blue camp.
Hsieh said he was grateful for outgoing Vice Premier Yeh Chu-lan's (
But because political parties are busy with today's election for legislative and deputy legislative speaker, Hsieh said, the atmosphere is presently not conducive to cross-party reconciliation.
The appointments announced yesterday included Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Deputy Secretary-General Lee Ying-yuan (
Other appointments include Chang Chun-yen (張俊彥), secretary-general of the Kaohsiung City Government, who will become director-general of the Central Personnel Administration.
Kaohsiung Deputy Mayor Lin Yung-chien (
Hsieh is scheduled to take over from Premier Yu Shyi-kun at a Cabinet meeting today. Hsieh will then lead the new Cabinet officials in taking their oaths of office.
Hsieh yesterday praised Lee Ying-yuan's extensive experience and negotiating and communication skills.
This is the second time Lee Ying-yuan has been appointed as the Cabinet's secretary-general. Valued for his negotiation skills, the 52-year-old PhD-holder in health economics from the University of North Carolina was first appointed to the post by Yu in January 2002.
He was in the post for less than a year before stepping down to run as a DPP candidate against Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
Lee Ying-yuan was a legislator and Taiwan's deputy representative to the US before taking up the posts of Cabinet secretary-general and DPP secretary-general.
Hsieh yesterday also noted Chang Chun-yen's experience in the civil sector. Chang, who will fill the secretary-general's post vacated by Lee Yi-yang (
He had also been the Tainan City Government's financial affairs chief and a Kaohsiung Bank chairman.
As for Lin Yung-chien, Hsieh said he had been aware of Lin's performance as Kaohsiung deputy mayor in the last few years.
As vice minister of the interior, Hsieh said, Lin would assist the Cabinet in the handling of regional affairs.
Lee Chin-yung replaces Cheng Wen-lung (鄭文隆) as vice chairman of the Public Construction Commission.
Hsieh said that as a lawyer-turned-politician, Lee Chin-yung would be able to professionally supervise the commission's procurement and BOT projects. Cheng will move to Kaohsiung to take up the deputy mayor's post.
Typhoon Usagi yesterday had weakened into a tropical storm, but a land warning issued by the Central Weather Administration (CWA) was still in effect in four areas in southern Taiwan. As of 5pm yesterday, Tropical Storm Usagi was over waters 120km south-southwest of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), the southernmost tip of Taiwan proper, and was moving north at 9kph, CWA data showed. The storm was expected to veer northeast later yesterday. It had maximum sustained winds of 101kph, with gusts of up to 126kph, the data showed. The CWA urged residents of Kaohsiung, Pingtung County, Taitung County and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春) to remain alert to
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