Government Information Office (GIO) head Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) yesterday resigned from his post and threw his hat into the ring for the year-end Taichung City mayoral race.
"I've chosen to run in Taichung City not only because my feelings for the city run deep, but also because I've seen how much Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) did for Kaohsiung City," Lin said, noting the need to boost Taichung City's public construction projects.
Although Lin handed his letter of resignation to the premier yesterday, Hsieh has yet to let Lin go, citing the need to think through possible candidates for the GIO position. Lin indicated that in the meantime, he would not be proposing any new policies.
While Lin's switch to local politics had been touted for some time, his resignation came as something of a surprise. His decision to run had not been expected until mid-March. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) does not start taking names for the primaries leading up to the mayoral race until March 28.
In a bid to secure the 2008 presidential election, the DPP has set its sights on the upcoming mayoral and county commissioner elections. Lin is not the only Cabinet official slated to run for a local elected office. Council of Hakka Affairs Chairman Luo Wen-jia (羅文嘉) is expected to run for Taipei County Commissioner, while Council of Labor Affairs Chairwoman Chen Chu (陳菊) has been touted as a candidate for Kaohsiung City Mayor. Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Vice Chairman Chiu Tai-san (邱太三) is also firming as a candidate for Taichung County Commissioner. Former Minister of Justice Chen Ding-nan (陳定南) also announced plans to run for Ilan County commissioner in January.
Lin, who was born in Taipei City, yesterday responded to accusations that he was a carpetbagger, saying that "a great city should welcome new talent."
"Without burdens, one can push for change with resolution," Lin said, saying the crux of the election would be whether he could propose constructive policies.
Lin will have to defeat popular incumbent Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) mayor Jason Hu (
The premier yesterday supported Lin's resignation.
"He [Lin] told me that since he decided to run in the year-end city mayor election, he does not want to cause any unnecessary misunderstanding by hanging on to his position," Hsieh told the plenary legislative session yesterday morning.
Hsieh dismissed talk that Lin's resignation was made to offset his recent questionable move to visit an underground radio station.
"Although his visit was indeed debatable, I don't think it is serious enough for him to resign," Hsieh said. "However, I thought it was a responsible move for him to offer his resignation." Hsieh revealed that he hopes to find Lin's successor before March 15.
Lin also dismissed media speculation that the purpose of his trip to Japan is to arrange first lady Wu Shu-jen's (吳淑珍) planned visit there in May for Expo 2005, which will be held in Aichi Prefecture. Lin left for Japan yesterday afternoon.
Additional reporting by Ko Shu-ling
Honor guards are to stop performing changing of the guard ceremonies around a statue of Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) to avoid “worshiping authoritarianism,” the Ministry of Culture said yesterday. The fate of the bronze statue has long been the subject of fierce and polarizing debate in Taiwan, which has transformed from an autocracy under Chiang into one of Asia’s most vibrant democracies. The changing of the guard each hour at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei is a major tourist attraction, but starting from 9am on Monday, the ceremony is to be moved outdoors to Democracy Boulevard, outside the eponymous blue-and-white memorial
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) supports peaceful unification with China, and President William Lai (賴清德) is “a bit naive” for being a “practical worker for Taiwanese independence,” former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said in an interview published yesterday. Asked about whether the KMT is on the same page as the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) on the issue of Taiwanese independence or unification with China, Ma told the Malaysian Chinese-language newspaper Sin Chew Daily that they are not. While the KMT supports peaceful unification and is against unification by force, the DPP opposes unification as such and
The annual Taipei Summer Festival, which starts today, is to tone down its fireworks displays, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said on Monday. Fireworks displays are to be held at the riverside site in Datong District’s (大同) Dadaocheng (大稻埕) area on four days at this year’s festival, with the first today, and then on Wednesday next week, July 31 and Aug. 10, the department said. There were eight displays last year, with the reduction aimed at minimizing inconvenience to local residents, it said. The first three shows, which are all on Wednesdays, are to last for five minutes, while the final
FATAL ILLNESS: Untreated symptoms can rapidly worsen to complications such as high fever, seizures and loss of consciousness, and can be life-threatening, a doctor said Hospitals have been reporting dozens of people with heat-related illnesses every day over the past week, given continuous high daytime temperatures, so recognizing the early signs of heatstroke is crucial in preventing serious complications, a Taipei City Hospital emergency physician said. The Central Weather Administration yesterday issued a heat alert for 19 cities and counties across Taiwan, with temperatures in New Taipei City, Miaoli County and Pingtung County likely to exceed 38°C, and temperatures in 12 cities and counties likely to exceed 36°C for three days straight. More than a dozen people were taken to hospitals for heat-related illnesses every day from