Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (
Chang said he will not allow any Cabinet member to resign before he finishes a comprehensive evaluation on a partial Cabinet reshuffle.
"Until a comprehensive evaluation is made, I won't approve any resignation by anyone, and I don't want to see any more Cabinet members tender their resignation," Chang said.
As to the possibility of reshuffling the Cabinet before May 20 -- the anniversary of President Chen Shui-bian's (
Chang, meanwhile, reiterated that he does not have a concrete timetable for the reshuffle.
"I know that the public has very high expectations of the Executive Yuan, and I'll work hard to maintain the team under the best conditions," Chang said.
Originally, information from sources close to the Presidential Office suggested there would only be a plan to reshuffle the Cabinet after May 20. But the oil spill from a shipwreck on Jan. 14 has led to strong public disapproval of the Executive Yuan, owing to its delayed response to the disaster.
Opposition legislators have recently demanded that the responsible Cabinet members and officials be replaced. Topping their list was Lin Jun-yi (
A report sent to Chang by the Research, Development and Evaluation Commission on Monday also listed Lin and Yeh as two of the officials who should be held responsible for administrative incompetence in the handling of the spill. The other was Lin's deputy, James Lee (
Both Lin and Yeh told the legislature on Tuesday that they were willing to take responsibility, and Yeh opted to tender her resignation.
Although Yeh's oral resignation has been turned down, sources said that Yeh is still firm about her decision and may tender an official letter of resignation today.
Executive Yuan officials said Chang is unlikely to let Yeh step down because she is not among the officials who have performed poorly.
In addition, they say that taking responsibility for the oil spill does not necessarily mean they have to resign.
Officials said Chang will definitely conduct a Cabinet reshuffle to boost administrative efficiency, but the timing for it is still under evaluation.
On Tuesday, Chang unveiled the standards he is using to evaluate whether a Cabinet member will be replaced. These included good teamwork, the ability to carry out duties, professional ability and public reputation.
Taiwan is projected to lose a working-age population of about 6.67 million people in two waves of retirement in the coming years, as the nation confronts accelerating demographic decline and a shortage of younger workers to take their place, the Ministry of the Interior said. Taiwan experienced its largest baby boom between 1958 and 1966, when the population grew by 3.78 million, followed by a second surge of 2.89 million between 1976 and 1982, ministry data showed. In 2023, the first of those baby boom generations — those born in the late 1950s and early 1960s — began to enter retirement, triggering
ECONOMIC BOOST: Should the more than 23 million people eligible for the NT$10,000 handouts spend them the same way as in 2023, GDP could rise 0.5 percent, an official said Universal cash handouts of NT$10,000 (US$330) are to be disbursed late next month at the earliest — including to permanent residents and foreign residents married to Taiwanese — pending legislative approval, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday. The Executive Yuan yesterday approved the Special Act for Strengthening Economic, Social and National Security Resilience in Response to International Circumstances (因應國際情勢強化經濟社會及民生國安韌性特別條例). The NT$550 billion special budget includes NT$236 billion for the cash handouts, plus an additional NT$20 billion set aside as reserve funds, expected to be used to support industries. Handouts might begin one month after the bill is promulgated and would be completed within
The National Development Council (NDC) yesterday unveiled details of new regulations that ease restrictions on foreigners working or living in Taiwan, as part of a bid to attract skilled workers from abroad. The regulations, which could go into effect in the first quarter of next year, stem from amendments to the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (外國專業人才延攬及僱用法) passed by lawmakers on Aug. 29. Students categorized as “overseas compatriots” would be allowed to stay and work in Taiwan in the two years after their graduation without obtaining additional permits, doing away with the evaluation process that is currently required,
RELEASED: Ko emerged from a courthouse before about 700 supporters, describing his year in custody as a period of ‘suffering’ and vowed to ‘not surrender’ Former Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) was released on NT$70 million (US$2.29 million) bail yesterday, bringing an end to his year-long incommunicado detention as he awaits trial on corruption charges. Under the conditions set by the Taipei District Court on Friday, Ko must remain at a registered address, wear a GPS-enabled ankle monitor and is prohibited from leaving the country. He is also barred from contacting codefendants or witnesses. After Ko’s wife, Peggy Chen (陳佩琪), posted bail, Ko was transported from the Taipei Detention Center to the Taipei District Court at 12:20pm, where he was fitted with the tracking
RSS