DPP Secretary-General Wu Nai-jen (
Wu also said that Tang had overburdened President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), and thus incurred great disapproval from opposition parties.
"The Executive Yuan has not responded to the people's expectations of the new government for political reforms since March 18," said Wu speaking to the media yesterday morning and lamenting that, in his view, President Chen and the ruling DPP had had to shoulder all the political responsibility for Tang's formulation of policy.
"Tang only wants to stabilize the bureaucratic system that existed under the former government. He has shown no ability to integrate financial policies and solve political issues," he added. Wu worried that the DPP would lose next year's election in the legislature if Tang did nothing to win the people's confidence.
Wu also attacked Tang for assigning the Cabinet's secretary-general Wea Chi-lin (魏啟林) and Minister without Portfolio Chang Yu-hui (張有惠), regarded as traitors by the KMT, to negotiate with the KMT-dominated legislature.
Responding to Wu's criticism, KMT Secretary-General Lin Feng-cheng (林豐正) said yesterday that the DPP was incomprehensible.
"The DPP was most keen to have Tang lead the Cabinet. Now they are blaming him for not doing a good job," he said.
The spokesperson for the PFP's legislative caucus Lee Ching-an (李慶安) blasted Wu for "speaking out and shifting the blame."
"If the DPP is dissatisfied with Tang, it should report to the DPP's Central Standing Committee instead of making comments to the media. The purpose is to embarrass Tang and to force him to step down," she said.
Lee added that Tang had followed President Chen's instructions on every decision.
PFP lawmaker Chen Chao-jung (陳朝容) further predicted that Tang would probably offer to resign before Sept. 15 since Chen and Tang had disagreed over the building of the Meinung Dam, the fourth Nuclear Power Plant and social welfare policy.
PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) said, however, that Wu's remarks reflected the fact that the DPP's top officials and the people all now doubted the new government's ability to handle financial matters and cross-strait relations.
"It would be a great frustration for Tang to hear Wu's criticism," said Soong, attending the opening ceremony of the preparatory committee of The Foundation of Taiwan History and Culture (台灣文史基金會).
Despite Wu's comments, DPP Chairman Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) indicated that he felt it was not fair to put all the blame on Tang even though there were problems of negotiation and integration within the new government.
"I think both Chen and Tang have been too nice to each other. They care too much about what the other thinks. We should encourage and give them more time," he said, after chairing the Kaohsiung City Council meeting yesterday morning.
DPP lawmaker Lee Wen-chun (李文忠) also noted that Wu, "who was too harsh on Tang," should be more careful in making comments to the media since he had a close relationship with President Chen.
On the other hand, Vice Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) praised Tang yesterday in the Executive Yuan. "Premier Tang has been an irreplaceable pillar of political stability. His performance is satisfactory, " he said, appealing to the public to have confidence in the new government.
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