Two current Cabinet members, both women, yesterday declined to comment on speculation that one or the other has been tapped to be Taiwan's next vice premier. Insiders say the next vice premier will be a woman.
The two minsters at the center of the speculation, Minister of the Interior Chang Po-ya (
Political analysts widely anticipate that a Cabinet reshuffle will be implemented after newly elected lawmakers take their places in the Legislative Yuan on Feb. 1.
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Pundits and political insiders have been at odds over who are the front runners for positions in the post-Feb. 1 Cabinet.
While surrounded by a pack of questioning reporters yesterday at the Legislative Yuan, Yeh said that she has no idea what her role would be in the new Cabinet. However, local Chinese-language media reports have pegged her as the front runner for the vice premier post.
"I haven't heard anything about that, and I have no idea about what my future position will be," she said adding that she would respect tradition and resign with other Cabinet members in January.
While waiting for a quorum of lawmakers to arrive to hold a transportation and communications committee hearing yesterday at the Legislative Yuan, independent lawmaker Lai Shyh-bao (
Lai's quip drew laughter from those in attendance
Though Lai was at the legislature to explain the government's position on transportation and mail links with China after both sides enter the WTO next month, a quorum of lawmakers was not present, so the meeting was cancelled.
When questioned by reporters about rumors she will be the next vice premier, Minister of the Interior Chang said that she didn't have an inkling about her role in the Cabinet after Feb 1.
"These assumptions have all been made by the media. Media ask and answer these questions themselves," Chang complained yesterday. She added that it's too early to discuss personnel changes in the Cabinet.
"This kind of early speculation detracts from the issues we face right now. Everyone should focus on the issues and stop wasting time," the interior minister said.
Current rumors suggest that Chang will not return as interior minister, but will be named vice premier and vice president of the Cabinet.
Pundits also say that former Kaohsiung county commissioner Yu Cheng Hsien (余政憲), who stepped down from her position last week, is said to be a front runner to head the interior ministry after Yeh's departure next month.
Many speculate that because Chang is female and doesn't list a formal party affiliation, simply removing her from the Cabinet would be a waste of political capital -- hence speculation that she will be named vice premier.
Chang has been widely criticized for her performance at the head of the interior ministry. Critics say she failed to adequately coordinate aid efforts following the 921 earthquake and two massive typhoons which struck Taiwan.
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) reportedly approached and tried hard to convince Chang Po-ya (張博雅), then Chaiyi mayor, to serve concurrently as both interior minister and provincial chairman last April.
Meanwhile, as speculation runs wild on who will be included in the new Cabinet, "Who will become the next defense minister?" is another of the most talked about questions among political pundits and the local media.
In his most recent book, The Premier Voyage of the Century the president said that he favors appointing a civilian to head the ministry. Moreover, two recently passed defense reform laws stipulate that the minister of national defense must be a civilian.
Civilians thought to be in line for the post include National Security Council secretary-general Antonio Chiang (
However, given the fact that a general only needs to retire to instantly become eligible for the position, other speculate that Chen will name a former military man to head the ministry.
Military men thought to be front runners include the current Chief of the General Staff General Tang Yao-ming (湯曜明) and air force chief General Chen Chao-ming (陳肇敏).
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