President-elect Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) warned incoming Cabinet members about problems they might encounter, calling for humility and discretion when commenting in public, as the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) held a “new Cabinet consensus camp” yesterday.
The two-day camp was for exchange and communication among future Cabinet members and was a “work [preparation] meeting rather than an orientation,” Tsai told the group.
“We are not here to discuss the abstract principles of the election campaign; we are to respond to the expectations of the people, who are watching as we make good on our promises,” she said. “This meeting is about how we are to achieve our goals.”
Photo: Lo Pei-der, Taipei Times
Tsai said there are two main problems concerning government operation: First, communication between administrative departments has descended into a mere formality; second, there needs to be an across-the-board reassessment of regulations that need revamping for the new era.
“Creating a means of effective cross-ministerial communication is crucial to law reform,” she said. “Challenges are sure to arise in a fast-changing era. Food security that involves agricultural production, additives, sanitary food processing, and exports and imports requires cooperation between the Council of Agriculture, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and local governments.”
There are no tasks that could be completed by a single body, she said.
Photo: CNA
“You will have to be a government that is the most coordinated and capable of communicating with each other,” she said.
Tsai said she would like her administration to know that “people are especially strict with us.”
“I have you remind all of you that there is no ‘honeymoon period’ for the new government. I believe you can sense this,” she said. “It is not easy for a government to build credit with the public, but credit can disappear overnight.”
“It took eight years [from 2008] for DPP officials, assistants and supporters to win back the trust of the people,” Tsai said. “In a democratic era, the effort accumulated over eight years could be lost in eight seconds. I believe all of you have learned this lesson over the past two weeks.”
There are different views about the composition of the incoming Cabinet, including doubts over the average age and the gender proportionality, Tsai said.
“I urge you not to be borne down by such concerns,” she said. “I have faith in your expertise and abilities, and your potential to deliver on our pledges.”
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