Observers say DPP gaining confidence

The composition of the incoming Cabinet indicates that the era of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has finally arrived and the DPP is ready for the presidential election in 2004, political observers said.

The analysts said the government is keen to prove its ability as a ruling party by recruiting "cooperative members" who have close ties with Chen or former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝). They added the move shows the government is intent on winning the next presidential election.

"Chen's era has arrived. ? Many of his old team members from the Taipei City government have been invited to join his administration. Also, having had two premiers before Yu Shyi-kun, the incoming Cabinet members have no baggage left over from KMT rule," said Chin Heng-wei (金恆煒), a political commentator and editor in chief of Contemporary Monthly.

Chin said Chen has gained much confidence from the DPP's success in the Dec. 1 elections. This confidence can also be seen in the Cabinet reshuffle, given that Chen no longer needs to recruit "foreign mercenaries," or non-DPP politicians, Chin said.

When the DPP took power in May 2000, the newly elected President Chen had to stabilize the political situation. The president picked Tang Fei (唐飛), the national defense minister under the KMT, as premier and many leaders in the business section were KMT members. KMT recruitment continued under Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄), who succeeded Tang as premier in October 2000.

But with the composition of the incoming Cabinet -- and the appointments of politicians loyal to Chen and Lee -- it is apparent that the president is eager to demonstrate the DPP's administrative capabilities, political analysts said.

"The so-called `combative Cabinet' means a Cabinet formed to prepare for the next presidential election. The president has no time to wait; he can't form a team that requires too much time to accommodate. He has to recruit individuals willing to team up with the DPP in a bid to smooth its operation and demonstrate its ruling capabilities," said Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉), who specializes in Chinese politics at National Chengchi University's Institute of International Relations.

Comparing the relation between the Presidential Office and the Cabinet to the relation between "brains and hands," Hsu said, "Once ideas occur in the brain, the hands have to act immediately and cooperatively."

"The arrangement also indicates that, once the DPP is able to dominate the executive and legislative branches, it is also ready to shoulder its full obligations. The DPP has no one else whom it can blame if it does a poor job over the next two years."

Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), deputy director of the Institute of International Relations at National Chengchi University, disagreed with criticism that Lee, the Taiwan Solidarity Union's (TSU) spiritual leader, has meddled with the personnel appointments.

Wu considered offering posts to politicians close to Lee an "institutionalized operation."

The deputy director said it is a fact that the DPP must cooperate with the TSU to form a majority in the legislature. Cooperation is an embryonic form of a "coalition government," and there is nothing wrong with the DPP accepting members recommended by Lee, Wu said.

Reports said that at least five to six of the members were selected because of their strong ties to Lee.