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Shieh to reconsider resignation
GO OR STAY?:
Several DPP legislators and senior party members urged the GIO minister to remain at his post through the remainder of the presidential campaign
By Ko Shu-ling
STAFF REPORTER
Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008, Page 3
Government Information Office Minister Shieh Jhy-wey (謝志偉) yesterday was less resolute about resigning after the Presidential Office and members of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh's (謝長廷) team asked him to stay on.
"I will talk to my wife about it," Shieh said.
While traveling with President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) during a trip to Central America and the Caribbean last week, Shieh said he had considered resigning on the night of the legislative elections on Jan. 12.
Shieh, Minister of Education Tu Cheng-sheng (杜正勝) and the ministry's Secretary-General Chuang Kuo-jung (莊國榮) were blamed by some DPP members for the party's dismal performance in the polls.
Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) and Kaohsiung County Commissioner Yang Chiu-hsing (楊秋興) were among those who criticized Shieh.
Yang said Shieh should have been more dignified as Cabinet spokesman and should refrain from "acting like a clown." Yang later apologized for the comparison.
After returning from the trip, Shieh, who doubles as Cabinet spokesman, said he would quit his two positions and politics altogether after Feb. 1.
Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) has said that he would lead the Cabinet to resign on Jan. 28 following last week's legislative elections. He also said that he would not allow any Cabinet official to quit or take leave of absence before that date.
Seven DPP legislators visited Shieh at the GIO yesterday to show their support, saying he had done nothing wrong.
DPP caucus whip Wang Tuoh (王拓) said many people in his constituency told him that they would not vote in the March election if the DPP did not ask Shieh to stay until May 20, when the new president will be inaugurated. They also asked DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh to find a place for him in his government if elected, Wang said.
Wang Sing-nan (王幸男) said Shieh had shown on the campaign trail that he had more charisma than Hsieh. If Shieh left the Cabinet, Wang said, many of his constituents told him that they would not campaign for Hsieh.
Gao Jyh-peng (高志鵬) said that it required more courage to stay than to leave. Huang Shu-ying (黃淑英) said that Shieh did not need to leave.
Hsieh's camp and the Presidential Office also asked Shieh to stay yesterday.
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