Executive Yuan denies reports about Su resignation

The Executive Yuan denied yesterday a news report that Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) plans to resign from office at "a proper time," calling the report "groundless" and "untrue."

Executive Yuan spokesman Cheng Wen-tsang (鄭文燦) made the comments in a press release issued shortly after the Chinese-language United Evening News reported that Su had drawn up his resignation and was waiting to announce it at an appropriate time after the current political turmoil subsides.

According to the report, Su has insisted on resigning from the government's top executive post citing "high moral standards" and "principles of clean politics" as his reasons following first lady Wu Shu-jen's (吳淑珍) indictment on charges of forgery and corruption a day earlier.

Meanwhile, Cheng declined to discuss the meeting Su held at his official residence yesterday morning with close aides and several Cabinet members.

According to Minister without Portfolio Lin Wan-i (林萬億), Su already made it clear on Friday night that he is determined to quit the premiership in response to public expectations should it be necessary for the sake of maintaining national stability and public order.

Su's motorcade was seen entering President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) Yushan Residence at 4pm yesterday amid reports that Su and Chen were to meet ahead of Chen's public address today regarding the "state affairs fund" scandal.

Cheng later confirmed that Su and Chen met for about an hour yesterday to exchange views and discuss Cabinet operations.