Ma Ying-jeou says he will announce personnel reshuffle

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman-elect Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said he will unveil the party's personnel lineup next week amid reports that his top campaign aide will soon take over as the party's new secretary-general.

Ma made the remarks following reports that Chan Chuen-pao (詹春柏), director of Ma's campaign office, is widely tipped to be named as the party's new secretary-general.

Ma said that after the lineup is finalized, he will announce it before the party congress, which is scheduled to open Aug. 19.

Outgoing KMT secretary-general Lin Feng-cheng (林豐正) will lead party officials in an en masse resignation on Aug. 18.

The KMT's Central Standing Committee has approved the themes of the party's 17th congress as the "re-emergence of the blue sky, infinite happiness -- democracy, legacy, peace and mutual benefit," to demonstrate the party's commitment and determination to return to power in 2008. The KMT is represented by the color blue.

Lai Su-jui (賴素如), the director of the KMT's Department of Culture and Information, said the party chairmanship handover ceremony will be held prior to the convening of the congress. As this will be the first party chairman changeover in the nearly 110-year history of the party, there will be no witnesses but all delegates when outgoing Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) passes the party's official seal to Ma.

During the ceremony, the party will express appreciation for Lien's contributions to the party during his term.

After the handover of the party seal, a videotape documenting Lien's major activities and speeches will be aired. Lien and Ma will then give speeches, after which Lien will leave the venue.

In related news, the KMT Central Standing Committee passed several amendments to its party charter during a regular meeting on Wednesday.

The amendments lengthen the term of the KMT's central standing committee members from two years from the current one year.

The amendments also abolish an article which stipulates that party members who are disciplined or expelled will not be eligible to be listed as candidates for the KMT Central Standing Committee or party chairman.

The article is generally considered to be aimed at James Soong (宋楚瑜), who was expelled by the KMT for running as an independent against Lien in the 2000 presidential election. Soong later founded the People First Party (PFP).

Upon hearing the news, Legislator Hwang Yih-jiau (黃義交), a PFP caucus whip, said the party will not talk about whether it will return to the fold of the KMT, saying that the party will continue to serve as a loyal opposition party and will only have the people's interests in mind.