Print

Mail

wiki links

Premier says TSE chief plans to resign

Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) confirmed yesterday that Taiwan Stock Exchange Chairman Wu Nai-jen (吳乃仁) plans to leave his post and said he would speak to Wu about the matter.

Su was responding to reports that Wu, a heavyweight in the powerful New Tide faction within the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), would quit next month.

Cabinet spokesman Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦) said Su would only consider whether an individual was suitable for a post and would not take into account the individual's political or factional background, if he had to replace Wu.

Wu's planned departure comes in the wake of an announcement by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) last Wednesday that he would give Su free rein in setting administration policy.

Wu said that other DPP factions claim that the New Tide benefits disproportionately from its close association with Su and that members of the faction hold too many key posts.

But Wu said that only two New Tide members -- himself and National Security Council Secretary-General Chiou I-jen (邱義仁) -- had taken the more conspicuous posts.

"If Chiou asks my views, I'll advise him to leave too, which will be good for everyone," Wu said.

Chiou is also a leading figure in the New Tide faction.

Wu said he was also considering asking all New Tide members to leave their government posts.

New Tide Legislator William Lai (賴清德) reacted positively to the news, saying that Wu was leaving because he wanted to assuage other party factions.

But fellow New Tide Legislator Lin Cho-shui (林濁水) said that since the DPP took power in 2000, members of the New Tide had not been appointed to head any of the five yuans.

Lin said that because calls for a recall of the president or a no-confidence motion to topple the Cabinet were mounting, the DPP should think about the problems it will face in next year's legislative elections and the 2008 presidential election.

Lin dismissed reports that Su was forming a partnership with the New Tide, saying that several sitting ministers were associated with the Welfare State faction, of which former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) is a leading figure.

"It is better to say that Su and Hsieh are forming a partnership," Lin said.

Legislator Gao Ji-peng (高志鵬) of the Justice Alliance faction -- the faction to which the president is associated -- said that it remained to be seen whether Wu's decision to quit would help promote party solidarity.

Gao said that New Tide did not have many administrative posts, but added that "one has to consider the feelings of others."

The rifts between the New Tide and other factions will also not be easily sorted out, he added.

Legislator Lee Chun-yi (李俊毅), who is convener of the Welfare State faction, said that Wu's decision marked the retreat of the powerful New Tide faction from president Chen's coterie.

The plight of Chen, mired in a series of corruption allegations involving his close aides and son-in-law, could be exacerbated, which is also the price he must pay for putting a premium on New Tide members in the beginning, Lee said.

also see story:
Political woes punishing TAIEX

This story has been viewed 2024 times.