Both the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucuses expressed their reservations yesterday about some members of the new Cabinet.
KMT caucus secretary-general Lu Hsueh-chang (呂學樟) told a news conference that Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) failed to recruit talent from outside the government, adding that the Cabinet reshuffle was merely a reshuffle within the administration.
Lu also expressed concern that new Minister of the Interior Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺), might not be able to win the hearts of the public, especially at the grassroots level, despite his academic credentials.
Lu said he could not comment on the qualification of the new minister of foreign affairs because he was not familiar with Timothy Yang (楊進添) at all.
DPP Policy Research Committee head Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) said the new Cabinet members were like “little Ma Ying-jeous.”
Ker said he had never heard of Yang, adding that Minister of Education Wu Ching-chi (吳清基) was more of a politician, noting that he had represented the KMT in an unsuccessful bid for Tainan County commissioner.
DPP Legislator Chiu Yi-ying (邱議瑩) said she “laughed out loud throughout the night” after learning of the new line-up. She did not elaborate.
When approached for comment on her way to the DPP caucus’ meeting at the legislature, DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said the appointment of new Cabinet members showed that the KMT had politics in mind.
Tsai urged the new Cabinet to respect the DPP, adding that the party could engage in “meaningful communication” with the KMT if the DPP were accorded respect.
Meanwhile, the new premier canceled his plan to visit the DPP caucus after the caucus said Wu should visit another time as many of its members were helping with post-typhoon reconstruction in the south.
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