The entire new government -- from the president down to the individual members of the Cabinet -- was sworn in yesterday, completing a transfer of power from the KMT-led regime to the DPP in one fell swoop.
The process began yesterday morning when Chen Shui-bian (
With the backdrop of a warm welcome and solemn music, Chen and his predecessor, Lee Teng-hui (
PHOTO: SUNG CHI-HSIUNG, LIBERTY TIMES
Standing before the ROC national flag and a portrait of Sun Yat-sen (
In an ironic twist of history, the supervisor of the oath-taking ceremony, Weng Yueh-sheng (
As Chen completed the oath to formally take over the presidency from outgoing President Lee, thousands of people in the audience, watching the proceedings on a large screen outside the presidential hall, cheered and applauded the historic moment.
Annette Lu was then sworn in by a separate oath.
With the swearing-in completed, Lee's 12 years as president came to an end. The moment also marked an end to more than 50 years of KMT rule.
Following the oath-taking, Chen walked with Lee in an unprecedented stroll out to the open-air celebration, where the retiring president bade farewell to the nation.
"I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to everyone for the past twelve years," Lee said. "May the new government have great success. May all of Taiwan's people be at peace and ease, and may the ROC live long and prosper. Goodbye everyone."
Following the short speech, Lee and the first lady departed by car for the final time from the Presidential Office, where Lee has spent the past sixteen years, since being appointed vice president in 1984.
Chen's first task after being sworn in was the formal appointments of Premier Tang Fei (
After Tang took his oath with Chen as witness, he in turn submitted his recommendation for Cabinet members to Chen for formal appointment.
The Cabinet -- led by Vice Premier Yu Shyi-kun -- then took their oaths of office before President Chen, observed by Vice President Annette Lu, Tang Fei and Chang Chun-hsiung.
The actual handover ceremony between the old and new Cabinet then got underway nearby at the Executive Yuan.
In a sight that would, until recently, have been considered nearly impossible, newly-designated Senior Presidential Adviser Peng Min-ming (
Peng was a leading figure in the early days of Taiwan's movements for both democracy and independence. Peng also ran for president as the DPP's candidate four years ago, losing to Lee Teng-hui (
Peng said he felt honored to participate in the "historic hand-over of power." He praised the outgoing Cabinet's achievements and legacy, adding that he expected that the outgoing officials would continue to make contributions to the nation.
He also expressed his wish for the new Cabinet to meet the public's expectations of it.
Outgoing Premier Vincent Siew (
"The brilliant achievements of Siew's Cabinet during the Asian financial crisis and after the 921 earthquake, earned the admiration of the international media, and I believe that will be supported by history." Tang said.
Tang added that he expected to be faced with both difficult responsibilities and numerous challenges.
After Siew departed, all members of the new Cabinet -- one after another -- were handed the official seals of their new offices from their counterparts in the outgoing Cabinet.
Still recovering from surgery, Tang was visibly weak yesterday, although notably better than he was one week ago. Last weekend, when he addressed his Cabinet members during an orientation meeting, he had put his hand on his chest to ease the pain from an infected surgical wound on his chest. Tang had a benign tumor removed from his chest on April 15.
After the ceremony, Tang returned immediately to Taipei's Veterans General Hospital.
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