Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers outlined their expectations for incoming premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) as they called on the new Cabinet to maintain stability heading into next year’s presidential election.
DPP Legislator Lo Chih-cheng (羅致政), director of the party’s legislative caucus, yesterday said that implementing policies with more empathy would be key for the new Cabinet.
The party should show that it has learned from its crushing losses in the local elections in November last year, he said.
Photo: CNA
Speaking to reporters in Kaohsiung, Vice President William Lai (賴清德) said he hopes that Chen could bring warmth and care to problem-solving at home and abroad.
DPP Legislator Wang Ting-yu (王定宇) on Thursday said the new Cabinet would face several tests including a debate over how to distribute NT$450 billion (US$14.82 billion) in surplus tax revenue from last year.
DPP Legislator Hsu Chih-chieh (許智傑) said he has confidence in the former vice president, as he would also bring robust experience as a public health expert.
Chen has a wealth of experience in foreign affairs and is a well-respected figure in religious fields, with links to the Vatican and the Catholic world, Hsu added.
Meanwhile, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus whip William Tseng (曾銘宗) said yesterday that he hoped the new Cabinet would prepare, as the reshuffle has already been delayed.
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) owes Taiwan an apology, as the outcome of the local elections indicated that people were not satisfied with her government, he said.
The missions given to the new Cabinet by the president are existing policies, which shows that it is a weak Cabinet that would only convey the will of the president, he said.
KMT Legislator Hung Mong-kai (洪孟楷) on Thursday said the new Cabinet must make people feel safe and guarantee public and information security, citing shooting incidents in Tainan during the election campaign last year and extortion rings.
Taiwan People’s Party caucus director-general Jang Chyi-lu (張其祿) yesterday said that the government has been working on the missions, but the outcome is most important.
The government has not been able to propose effective solutions to economic issues that people care about, such as housing prices, low wages and energy policies, he said.
The New Power Party said in a statement that it hoped Chen could lead the Cabinet to break new ground and rise to the governance challenges.
Fulfilling the promised policies is the best way to convince people, the party said.
The new Cabinet should listen to public opinion and respond with concrete action, as well as complete long-delayed policies and bills, it added.
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