Yu to lead `combative Cabinet'

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) announced yesterday that Yu Shyi-kun, currently secretary-general to the president, will be the next head of Taiwan's executive branch.

The announcement came just one hour after Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) led his Cabinet to resign en masse.

Chen also announced that Chen Shih-meng (陳師孟), currently the deputy governor of the central bank, will fill Yu's former position.

Yu also introduced eight new members of the so-called "combative Cabinet" to the public in the afternoon.

Minister of Economic Affairs Lin Hsin-yi (林信義), will be promoted to vice premier. He will also head the Cabinet's Council for Economic Planning and Development (經建會).

Both Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and Chang Fu-mei (張富美) will stay at their posts as the chairwoman of the Mainland Affairs Council and the chairwoman of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission respectively. Chief of the General Staff Tang Yao-ming (湯曜明) will be promoted to defense minister.

Eugene Chien (簡又新), currently deputy secretary-general to the president, will take up the post of foreign affairs minister.

Former minister of finance Yen Ching-chang (顏慶章) will be appointed Taiwan's representative to the WTO.

Chiou I-jen (邱義仁), Cabinet secretary-general, is appointed as a minister without portfolio. Taipei's deputy representative to Washington, Lee Ying-yuan (李應元), will fill Chiou's position.

General Yang Te-chih (楊德智), director of the Vocational Assistance Commission for Retired Servicemen, will retain his post.

Yu is expected to announce other new ministers today.

While incumbent Minister of Justice Chen Ding-nan (陳定南) is expected to retain his post, former Kaohsiung county commissioner Yu Cheng-hsien (余政憲) is expected to head the interior ministry.

Incumbent interior minister Chang Po-ya (張博雅) confirmed yesterday that she had accepted an offer to take up the post of vice president of the Examination Yuan.

In addition to expressing gratitude to Chang, The president said that he has a more challenging job for the former premier, although he did not specify what that was.

He also complimented Yu as a "modest" individual and a good negotiator.

"Like me, he comes from a poor farming family and understands the true meaning of poverty and hardship," he said.

Chen said he hoped for a new political climate when the legislature reconvenes on Feb. 1.

"I hope to see more efforts made to boost the economy and less conflict in the legislature," he said. "I hope communication replaces bickering and trust replaces hatred."

Although media speculation has been rife that Chen had chosen his new Cabinet members on former president Lee Teng-hui's (李登輝) advice, Yu dismissed the speculation.

"Except for the ministers of defense, foreign affairs and cross-strait affairs, who were selected jointly by myself and the president, I have total autonomy over forming the new Cabinet," Yu said.