Presidential Office Secretary-General Yu Shyi-kun yesterday denied speculation that he is being lined up to replace Premier Frank Hsieh (
Following dour predictions of the ruling party's possible election results, speculation regarding a Cabinet reshuffle after the election has been mounting.
As Hsieh and his team have been under the shadow of the Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp (KRTC), local Chinese-language media reported yesterday that Yu, who served as premier from February in 2002 to February in 2005, could possibly be "recycled" and re-appointed premier.
Asked by reporters about the speculation, President Chen Shui-bian (
"Who said that?" Chen said.
According to the Presidential Office's Department of Public Affairs, Chen has not considered a Cabinet reshuffle. A press release issued yesterday said that "Chen was sorry to see such irresponsible new reports, which could affect the stability of the Cabinet and upset public opinion."
Hsieh, who was in Nantou County yesterday, declined to respond to reporter's questions concerning the speculation.
Yu has been on personal leave since Wednesday in a bid to help campaign for DPP candidate Chen Ding-nan (
"We should give Hsieh more time and space. For me, the priority is to trying to help the party win in the elections," Yu said.
Some DPP legislators attribute the speculation to a continuing power struggle among factions inside the party. DPP Legislator Lee Chun-yee (
Hsieh, Yu and DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) are all considered potential candidates to run in the presidential election in 2008.
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