Chen: I will respect Tang's choices

President-elect Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said yesterday that he would respect the opinions of his premier-select Tang Fei (唐飛) when it comes to the makeup of the next Cabinet.

The comments followed a decision by the KMT on Monday not to stand in the way of Tang's appointment as premier, as long as he does so as an individual and not a KMT member.

"I will respect the overall arrangement for personnel affairs set by future Premier Tang," said Chen, adding that he would hold extensive discussions with Tang on the issue.

"Everyone has their own way of thinking. As long as we can face the issue without prejudice, I believe we can find talented people to form a Cabinet for all the people," said Chen.

KMT secretary-general Lin Fong-cheng (林豐正) reiterated yesterday that based on "the interests of the people," his party would allow Tang to join the new government "as an individual."

"The KMT will neither endorse Tang's administration nor be responsible for it," Lin said, adding that Tang would be suspended from party activities at the same time.

Lin said the conditions would also apply to other potential Cabinet members from the KMT.

"If any of Tang's future policies conflict with the KMT, we will come up with a strategy to deal with them on a case-by-case basis," Lin said.

Nevertheless, speculation by the media was rife yesterday that Tang had met secretly with Vice Premier Liu Chao-hsiuan (劉兆玄) in the morning to exchange opinions on forming the new Cabinet, possibly related to retaining some of its incumbents.

Tang later denied the reports.

"It would be impossible for me to talk about these things with Liu," he said, adding that he had no one specific in mind to serve in any of the Cabinet positions.

Tang said that in the next few days he would neither meet President-elect Chen to talk about Cabinet-related issues, nor attend tomorrow's meeting of Chen's National Policy Advisory Committee (NPAC, 國政顧問團).

However, Tang stressed that he would ask for the KMT's advice in the following few days over his premiership.

"I'm fine with the conditions they have drawn," Tang said, adding he would communicate with as many people as possible on the issue.

Speaking for Chen yesterday, DPP lawmaker Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄), head of the new government's transition team, said the KMT's tacit approval of Tang's nomination deserved praise.

"We are dealing with the issue on the common ground that national interests are being given priority," Chang said.

In fact, forming a new Cabinet is only one of several potentially divisive issues Chen has had to take into consideration since winning the election.

He has, in response, used a "three stabilities" promise of maintaining consistency in matters involving personnel, institutions, and policies (三安).

When visiting the Martyrs' Shrine in Taipei yesterday morning as part of Tomb Sweeping Day activities, Chen stressed that he would continue to ensure stability in all three areas.

Merely his decision to be there, paying respects to those who devoted their lives to the founding of the ROC on the mainland in 1911, was seen as manifestation of Chen's commitment to continuity in government policy, analysts said.