Premier Lin Chuan (林全) resigned yesterday and the Cabinet is to follow suit en masse tomorrow, amid rumors that Tainan Mayor William Lai (賴清德) could be tapped to succeed Lin.
Lin told a news conference at the Executive Yuan that he decided to resign because he had completed the three goals in his agenda since he became premier last year: to steer the administration through the transitional period; implement President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) policies and to lay a foundation for the nation’s development by coordinating Cabinet policies.
Lin said he had proposed resigning in June because he believed that he was not the appropriate candidate to lead the administration through next year’s mayoral and councilor elections, and felt that a new premier with a sharper political consciousness should take over as early as possible.
Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei Times
However, Tsai asked him to delay his resignation until the tasks requiring his expertise were completed, including the long-awaited tax reform package and the budget review of the Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program, Lin said.
That review was completed on Thursday and the tax reform proposal was announced on Friday, he said.
“Over the past 15 months, I have completed the ‘five plus two’ innovative industries development plan, the long-term care service 2.0 package, the social housing planning and implementation framework, as well as amending the Electricity Act (電業法) to pave the way for the transition to ‘green’ energy, raising funds for long-term care services and proposing a tax reform package,” Lin wrote in his resignation letter.
“The Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program’s initial budget passed on Thursday. While deeply appreciating the opportunity to serve the nation afforded by the president, I have completed the short-term goals and planned to resign as the premier to smooth the president’s appointments plan,” he wrote.
Reports of a major Cabinet reshuffle have been circulating for months, with some in the pan-green camp demanding that Lin should resign as the administration’s approval rating dropped.
“As a politician I accept all criticism,” Lin said. “I am very happy to be relieved of the burden and I am glad and thankful that someone is willing to succeed me.”
Lin said he and Tsai had reached a mutual understanding on who should be the next premier, but he refused to say who it was.
Lin is to officially leave office on Thursday.
It has been widely speculated that Lai would take over as premier on Friday, but Lai, who has repeatedly denied the rumors, declined to say if he had been picked to succeed Lin.
Lin’s Cabinet has been criticized for being dominated by older, pan-blue and male politicians, and its labor policy and infrastructure development program were strongly opposed during the legislative review.
In response to rumors that those holding financial or economic portfolios would be reappointed, Lin said that the next premier would announce the next Cabinet.
His resignation is widely seen as an attempt to salvage the Tsai government’s popularity.
“I qualify for a senior citizen card, so I can lead a carefree life. I do not plan to take any jobs. I want to stress that I will not accept any government positions,” Lin said.
There has been speculation that he might become the next central bank president.
Presidential Office Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) said that Tsai would announce Lin’s replacement at a news conference today.
Lin submitted his resignation to Tsai after she held a national security meeting on Sunday in response to the North Korean nuclear test, saying that he had completed the government’s short-term objectives, Wu said.
Tsai accepted his resignation after a serious conversation with Lin, Wu said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) yesterday said that the Chinese Communist Party was planning and implementing “major” reforms, ahead of a political conclave that is expected to put economic recovery high on the agenda. Chinese policymakers have struggled to reignite growth since late 2022, when restrictions put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic were lifted. The world’s second-largest economy is beset by a debt crisis in the property sector, persistently low consumption and high unemployment among young people. Policymakers “are planning and implementing major measures to further deepen reform in a comprehensive manner,” Xi said in a speech at the Great Hall
CIVIL DEFENSE: More reservists in alternative service would help establish a sound civil defense system for use in wartime and during natural disasters, Kuma Academy’s CEO said While a total of 120,000 reservists are expected to be called up for alternative reserve drills this year, compared with the 6,505 drilled last year, the number has been revised to 58,000 due to a postponed training date, Deputy Minster of the Interior Ma Shih-yuan (馬士元) said. In principle, the ministry still aims to call up 120,000 reservists for alternative reserve drills next year, he said, but the actual number would not be decided later until after this year’s evaluation. The increase follows a Legislative Yuan request that the Ministry of the Interior address low recruitment rates, which it made while reviewing
DETERRENCE: Along with US$500 million in military aid and up to US$2 billion in loans and loan guarantees, the bill would allocate US$400 million to countering PRC influence The US House of Representatives on Friday approved an appropriations bill for fiscal year 2025 that includes US$500 million in military aid for Taiwan. The legislation, which authorizes funding for the US Department of State, US foreign operations and related programs for next year, passed 212-200 in the Republican-led House. The bill stipulates that the US would provide no less than US$500 million in foreign military financing for Taiwan to enhance deterrence across the Taiwan Strait, and offer Taipei up to US$2 billion in loans and loan guarantees for the same purpose. The funding would be made available under the US’ Foreign Military
WARNING: China has stepped up harassment of foreign vessels after its new regulation took effect last month, an official said, citing an incident in the Diaoyutai Islands The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) yesterday linked China’s seizure of a Taiwanese fishing vessel illegally operating in its territorial waters to Beijing’s new regulation authorizing the China Coast Guard to seize boats in waters it claims. Chinese officials boarded and then seized a Taiwanese fishing vessel operating near China’s coast close to Kinmen County late on Tuesday and took it to a Chinese port, the CGA said. The Penghu-registered squid fishing vessel Da Jin Man No. 88 (大進滿88) was boarded and seized by China Coast Guard east-northeast of Liaoluo Bay (料羅灣), 17.5 nautical miles (32.4km) from Taiwan’s restricted waters off Kinmen,