Sat, Jan 19, 2002 page3

• Premier tight-lipped on new Cabinet

  CONSTITUTIONAL TRADITION Chang Chun-hsiung will lead the Cabinet in resigning on Monday but revealed little about what the President's new inner circle will look like

  • By Ko Shu-ling / STAFF REPORTER
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  Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) said yesterday that the Cabinet will resign on Monday in keeping with tradition.

  Chang remained tight-lipped, however, about the composition of the new Cabinet and whether he will retain his position as premier. President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) is expected to announce on Monday that Chang will retain his post.

  "Since the president's job is to appoint a new premier and Cabinet, it'd be more appropriate to let the president make the announcement himself," Chang said at the Cabinet's year-end press conference at the Government Information Office late yesterday afternoon.

  Although the Constitution does not mandate such a move, it is a common practice for the premier to have the Cabinet resign as a show of respect for the newly elected legislature.

  The tradition dates back to when the legislature needed to approve Cabinet appointments. However the requirement was done away with in constitutional amendments made in 1997.

  After the Cabinet's resignation, the president will then appoint a new premier and Cabinet prior to the reconvening of the legislature. The legislature is scheduled to reconvene on Feb. 1.

  Defends his role

  At yesterday's press conference, Chang dismissed suggestions that he, as the head of the executive branch, merely executes policy on behalf of the president and is not a policy maker as authorized by the Constitution.

  "It's not fair to make that allegation simply because the president and I enjoy a sound relationship," he said.

  "He's someone who knows a great deal about the designation of duties and he has never interfered with my job."

  Chang said that there is a set of criteria used to evaluate the performance of Cabinet officials. The outcome of the evaluation will serve as a reference for the appointment of the new Cabinet.

  The judging standards focus on discipline, efficiency and the devotion of the individual.

  Chang refused to reveal any more details about the evaluation results.

  "The only thing I can say right now is that I'm grateful to and proud of the contribution made by each and every Cabinet member. I can guarantee you that we'll devote ourselves to the job until the very last minute," he said.

  Unprecedented change

  Analyzing the past 470 days since he took office in October last year, Chang said that he has encountered overwhelming difficulties because he is the nation's first DPP premier.

  "The job was made extremely difficult for me because Taiwan is experiencing an unprecedented political transformation," he said.

  He cited the example of the transfer of power in 2000 which ended some 50 years of KMT rule and last year's legislative election which made the DPP the largest -- but not the majority -- party in the legislature.

  Chang said the two most important tasks for the Cabinet were to help the president smoothly and safely manage the nation and to move forward with economic reforms.

  In addition to recounting the Cabinet's achievements made over the past 470 days, Chang also stressed the importance of political cooperation.

  "I've always believed that the system of checks and balances doesn't clash with political cooperation," he said.

  "The DPP will still have to work with other opposition parties even if the DPP secures a majority in the legislature."
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