Sat, Sep 09, 2000 page3

• Tang under fire for comments on responsibility

  BACKSTEPPING The premier reformulated remarks he made in a recent interview that had drawn sharp criticism and cast doubt over his ability to serve

  • By Joyce Huang / STAFF REPORTER
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  Premier Tang Fei (唐飛) sought to clarify yesterday previous comments on whether he or President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) was responsible for the Cabinet's performance. Tang said he "without any doubt should take responsibility for Cabinet members' performance.

  "I was probably not making myself clear," Tang said at yesterday's mid-autumn banquet with the media, referring to comments he made in an interview with The Journalist (新新聞) to be published this week.

  During the interview, Tang reportedly said: "The president should be fully responsible for the performance of Cabinet members."

  "I was only involved in nominating Cabinet members and, therefore, the president should, in accordance with the constitutional system, take final responsibility over whether they are good choices," Tang was reported to have said.

  Tang also said that his only responsibility was to the legislature and that he was not responsible to the people because he was not elected premier.

  He further said that he would retire after being in office for one-and-a-half years because he would then consider himself too old to remain in the post.

  "Maybe someone younger should take over then," he said.

  Tang, however, expressed his sorrow yesterday for causing such misunderstanding and explained that what he had really meant by his remarks was that it was the president's obligation to appoint members of the Cabinet, including the premier.

  "A popularly elected president is responsible to the people directly, while the premier, appointed by the president, is of course responsible to the people too, but only indirectly," Tang said, adding that his responsibility was not only to the president but also to the legislature.

  Tang also downplayed the likely consequences of his slated resignation after one-and-a-half years, saying, "if any premier shall resign, a Cabinet reshuffle would be kept within very limited parameters in accordance with the revised constitutional system."

  Tang also said: "I have made it clear from the beginning that I will quit the premier's post if ever the president or the people are not satisfied with my performance."

  Tang's interview with The Journalist drew instant criticism from members of all political affiliations on Thursday. DPP Secretary-General Wu Nai-jen (吳乃仁) angrily asked why Tang did not have to be held politically responsible despite his position as premier.

  Vice president of the Legislative Yuan, Yao Eng-chi (饒穎奇), said that Tang's comments were in conflict with his assurance to legislators during interpellation sessions in early August that he was responsible for the appointment of Cabinet members and for their performance.

  Yao also said that having "caused disharmony" between himself and the president, Tang would likely be given a difficult time by legislators during the next legislative session.

  KMT Legislator Huang Chao-shun (黃昭順) and People First Party Legislator Lee Ching-an (李慶安) both expressed concerns that Tang's comments were indicative of fatigue and distress caused by work and that his comments amounted to dereliction of his duties as premier.
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