Compared to the pan-blue alliance, which is engaged in an internal struggle over transferring power to a younger generation, President Chen Shui-bian (
Having won a second term, Chen is displaying self-confidence and improving upon his formerly closed style of policy-making in order to incorporate power-sharing, factional balance and the cultivation of talent into his new administration.
With Chen's new Cabinet and a network of officials now established in the national security system and in the diplomatic corps, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is establishing a basis from which it could establish itself as the permanent ruling party, said senior DPP Legislator Hung Chi-chang (
Compared to four years ago, when Chen was confronted with a lack of governmental talent within the DPP and had to select a number of figures from outside his party, the new government is now a veritable cornucopia of talent in a wide range of fields -- including people recommended by former president Lee Teng-hui (
"When A-bian (
Hong says that following this year's presidential election, Chen has promoted people on the basis of experience, taking into account the esteem in which the appointees are held both within the party and outside it.
"Chen no longer needs to rely on outside forces. Those who were promoted before their time have reached maturity and, in his appointments this time around, Chen is looking confidently ahead toward four years -- perhaps even eight years -- of stable government," Hong said.
Another observer says that Chen has done a good job of developing future DPP presidential candidates. The DPP's "four stars" -- Taipei County Commissioner Su Tseng-chang (
mutual trust
"Su's appointment as secretary-general of the Presidential Office brings him to the very center of power and policy-making, and this was done in order to develop his experience in running the country. If he is successful as secretary-general, he will be the next premier," said Chen Sung-shan (
"In addition, A-bian has taken pains to relinquish some power and give it to Yu, enabling Yu, in the process of reshuffling the Cabinet, to allocate posts in such a way that the Cabinet will become his own base of support. At the same time, in the organization of national security, cross-strait affairs and diplomatic staff, Chen has accepted Lu's favorite candidates, allowing a team to emerge that has been forged by the exercise of mutual trust between the president and vice-president," Chen Sung-shan said.
As for Hsieh -- who is less than halfway through his second term as mayor of Kaohsiung -- Chen cannot yet appoint this political giant to any post. Chen Sung-shan says that Hsieh is regarded as the "possessor of the greatest intellect in the party."
Chen has therefore appointed DPP Legislator Cho Jung-tai (
"Chen has allowed the four eligible presidential candidates to take up battle stations in order to give them every opportunity to compete, as well as to provide an equal balance of power, preventing any one of them from being dominant at the outset and turning Chen Shui-bian into a lame duck president too early on," Chen Song-shan said.
Regarding the 2006 Taipei and Kaohsiung mayoral elections, Chen Shui-bian has clearly sought to cultivate Taipei City Legislator Luo Wen-chia (羅文嘉) and Kaohsiung City Legislator Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) as candidates, bringing both of them into the Cabinet not only to bolster the government's experience but also to provide the two with political experience.
"Luo-Wen-chia's appointment as Chairman of the Hakka Affairs Commission -- and Chen Chi-mai's as Cabinet spokesman and minister without portfolio -- will give each of them a lot of leadership experience, raise their profiles and enable them to promote and train their staff and aides in the best possible way," said political columnist Hu Wen-huei (
"They only need to do a good job and they will be the best possible DPP candidates for the 2006 Taipei and Kaohsiung mayoral elections," Hu said
The reshuffling of the Presidential Office's staff also deserves attention. Chen has appointed his most trusted senior aide, Chiou I-jen (
The president chose close aide Lin Chin-chang (
"As in the US White House, important presidential speeches and policy must be looked at by the NSC," said an important aide to the president.
"Lin should be able to steer the operations of the NSC in the direction of those of its US counterpart," the aide said.
taiwanese awareness
As far as "the political resources" of the Presidential Office are concerned, including posts as national policy advisers and senior adviser to the president, these posts were seen in the past as "serving as a reward for services rendered and as a way to win people over by any means, even in opposition to the party," but the personnel occupying the posts were not actually entrusted with providing advice to the president.
However, the list of names announced by the president on Thursday includes talented figures from the world of business -- replacing the former captains of industry who contrived to steer Chen towards the pan-blue camp -- as well as a good number of people steeped in knowledge of the Taiwan independence issue.
Of 30 senior-adviser posts, 15 receive pay (with salaries along the same lines as those of the presidents of the government's five branches) and 15 serve without pay.
Of 90 policy-adviser posts, 30 serve with pay (with salaries equivalent to those of ministers) and 60 serve without pay.
Evergreen Group (
Meanwhile, Wu Li-pei (
"Some senior leaders of groups that favor independence, and academic elites with strong Taiwanese awareness, such as Chin Heng-wei (
"At the same time, choosing them is intended to conciliate the pro-independence veterans, to keep them from feeling bitter about the goodwill shown toward China and the backing down from the US in the inauguration speech," Hu said.
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