Premier-designate Lin Chuan (林全) yesterday introduced the fundamental policy directions proposed by president-elect Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) to his future Cabinet members, while promising to entrust each member to accomplish policy objectives.
“The event is meant to have future Cabinet members systematically understand the core ideas of the president-elect and to integrate as a team when presenting policies,” Cabinet spokesperson-designate Tung Chen-yuan (童振源) told a news conference held following a three-hour meeting attended by Tsai, Lin and Lin’s future Cabinet members who have been introduced to the public.
“Lin said that he would authorize all ministers to accomplish each ministry’s policy objectives, because government officials have been too constrained in the past,” Tung said. “[Lin believes that] only ambitious ministers would win respect from the public, while saying that the entire government will back them up when they propose visions for the nation.”
Photo: CNA
Tung said that Tsai showed them the results of a recent poll, which indicates Lin’s Cabinet has an approval rating of about 50 percent, which means that the public does not hold the Cabinet in a negative light.
However, Tung did not give details about the opinion poll.
“The only thing that people question is the age of the members, according to Tsai,” Tung said. “But Tsai explained that many Cabinet members are senior because government leadership needs experienced officials who can help keep the new Cabinet stable, bring crises under control and work on risk management.”
Separately yesterday, Tsai, in a Facebook post, shared a new series of stamps to be issued by Chunghwa Post on May 20 in commemoration of Tsai and Chen’s inauguration.
In one of the stamps, images of Tsai and Chen are placed alongside those of people from different walks of life and ethnic groups in Taiwan.
Tsai said the design symbolizes a pluralistic nation and that people are the most important factor in making Taiwan a great nation, adding that people need to work together to move democratic Taiwan forward.
Additional reporting by CNA
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