Wu also said former Hsinchu City mayor Lin Jung-tzer (林政則) was likely to join the Cabinet as a minister-without-portfolio.
Lin earlier turned down Wu’s offer to lead the state-run Taiwan Water Corp, saying he needed to take care of his elderly mother.
Wu also confirmed that Johnny Chiang (江啟臣), an associate professor of political science in Soochow University, would succeed Su Jun-pin (蘇俊賓) as Government Information Office minister.
Su will take over as KMT spokesman.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Timothy Yang (楊進添), who is reportedly to be replaced, said he would focus his attention on handling foreign affairs rather than media reports on his position.
Meanwhile, DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said it was regrettable that Chou had become a lame duck one year before the end of his term.
DPP Legislator Huang Wei-cher (黃偉哲) said the surprise announcement was designed to strengthen President Ma’s re-election bid in 2012.
“By casting Chu [as the Sinbei nominee], [the KMT] is forcing the DPP to nominate [former premier] Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) or another party heavyweight,” Huang said. “This is one less obstacle to Ma’s re-election bid.”
Meanwhile, Wu Ping-jui (吳秉叡), a former DPP lawmaker who heads the party’s Taipei County branch, said that by backing out, Chou was admitting that his tenure had been a failure.
DPP Secretary-General Su Jia-chuan (蘇嘉全) said the KMT should be focusing on governing the country rather than worrying about elections that are 10 months away.
“The [KMT] has been busy making election preparations,” DPP spokesman Lin Yu-chang (林右昌) said. “It is hard to believe that Chou made this decision willingly.”
Lin said the announcement demonstrated that the KMT has not been committed to a fair and equal nomination process.
“The only thing important in their party is what high-level party officials dictate,” Lin said.
He said that despite signs that the KMT was already gearing up for the December municipal elections, his party would stick to its original nomination timetables.
DPP nominations in Kaohsiung and Tainan cities are expected to commence next month, with final party polls taking place in May. The DPP said it would have more “flexibility” in timing for the other three cities — Taichung, Sinbei and Taipei.
ADDITIONAL REPORTINB BY SHIH HSIU-CHUAN
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