Reins of power change hands

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 (陳水扁) was sworn in as the tenth president of the Republic of Taiwan, marking the first-ever peaceful transfer of power in Taiwan from one freely elected leader to another.

With the backdrop of a warm welcome and solemn music, Chen and his predecessor, Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), together walked into a ceremonial hall within the Presidential Office at 9am yesterday. Along with the presidents and their first ladies was Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮).

Standing before the ROC national flag and a portrait of Sun Yat-sen (孫中山), Chen solemnly swore to promote the welfare of Taiwan's people and to safeguard the country in accordance with the constitution.

In an ironic twist of history, the supervisor of the oath-taking ceremony, Weng Yueh-sheng (翁岳生) -- president of the Judicial Yuan and chairman of the Council of Grand Justices -- was Chen's mentor when he began studying law at National Taiwan University in 1969.

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 (唐飛), Presidential Office secretary-general Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄), and National Security Council secretary-general Chuang Ming-yao (莊銘耀).

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 (彭明敏), acted as witness for the hand-over of the premiership.

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 (李登輝).

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.