Incoming Vice Premier Chang Chun-hsiung
Chang, currently secretary-general to the Presidential Office, said that the two areas have been the targets of public criticism since the new government was formed more than two months ago.
"We'll learn the lessons from the painful experiences and failures of the past to start anew," Chang said.
PHOTO: SUNG CHI-HSIUNG, LIBERTY TIMES.
He said the Executive Yuan would better coordinate its financial policies, which have already gained a reputation for their inconsistency.
In addition, the Executive Yuan would strengthen its communication with lawmakers in order to win their support, Chang said.
Chang made the remarks while visiting the Legislative Yuan to meet lawmakers, the day after his appointment to the vice-premiership was announced.
During the visit, Chang met Legislative Yuan speaker Wang Jin-pyng
Chang will take over the post left vacant by Yu Shyi-kun, who stepped down on Tuesday to take responsibility for last Saturday's Pachang Creek
Chang's credentials as a former legislator who is familiar with the workings of the Legislative Yuan are widely believed to be a major factor behind his appointment to the post.
Opposition lawmakers, however, were not optimistic about the prospects of improved relations between the legislature and the Cabinet, despite Chang's reputation as a skilled communicator.
"Structurally speaking, the DPP holds only one-third of the legislative seats, which is insufficient for it to secure dominance over the implementation of policy," said Lai Shyh-bao (
Lai said the search for a replacement for Yu would have been a good opportunity for President Chen Shui-bian
"It is regrettable that the Executive Yuan lost a chance to steady its power base," Lai said.
Chen Chao-jung (
"President Chen even criticized lawmakers as a mouthpiece for the Chinese communists, creating tensions with the legislature," Chen said.
And the question of whether Premier Tang Fei (
Because Tang had previously said he preferred a candidate with a strong background in finance, the appointment of someone with little financial experience was evidence that Chen is choosing the Cabinet's personnel -- and not Tang, the lawmakers argued.
"Chang's credentials are apparently inconsistent with those you claimed to seek," said New Party legislator Cheng Long-shui
But Tang said Cheng's observation was incorrect. "I was picking the most suitable person to do the job. [Chang] was my own first choice," the premier said.
The lawmakers also questioned whether the vice premier would become a stronger figure than the premier, saying that Chang, like Yu, was sent by Chen to act as the president's representative.
Tang dismissed the suggestion as meaningless speculation.
Chang, meanwhile, said his job was to assist Tang -- not replace him.
"Tang's continuation as premier is the factor most crucial to the attainment of political stability," Chang said. "He is irreplaceable."
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