Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) said yesterday the Cabinet, in keeping with tradition, will resign en masse before newly elected legislators take their oaths of office on Feb. 1.
The premier, however, refused to comment on who may succeed him as premier or speculation that he may be reappointed.
"The Cabinet will tender its collective resignation sometime next month, before the new legislature is sworn in," Chang said during a question-and-answer session in the legislature. "We have not yet settled on an exact date."
Asked to comment on the upcoming Cabinet shuffle, the premier said it was up to President Chen Shui-bian (
"The Cabinet is giving its top priority to getting the budgetary bill passed by the legislature," Chang said, "as the issue will greatly influence the performance of the administration next year."
Chang said he found it unbecoming and premature to speculate on the make-up of the next Cabinet.
"We should fully respect President Chen's opinion on the issue," he said.
Political observers say the premier is loath to reveal his personal wishes for fear it may be seen as an attempt to unduly influence Chen's decisions.
Pundits have said Chang may be reappointed as premier, noting he is one of the few DPP officials who is both acceptable to the opposition and capable of defending the Chen administration.
The premier also said he will tighten supervision over all Cabinet agencies and punish officials who fail to carry out planned spending for the present fiscal year.
"I have instructed all Cabinet-level agencies to give their utmost effort over the next month," Chang told the legislature. "Officials who fail to execute 70 percent of their spending plan will be given a major demerit."
Opposition lawmakers have said that a sizable portion of the budget approved last year remains intact, though the government has repeatedly complained about a lack of funds.
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