President Tsai Ing-wen named Tainan City Mayor Lai Ching-te as replacement for outgoing Premier Lin Chuan during a news conference at the Presidential Office Sept. 5 in Taipei City.
Lai is the perfect candidate for executing the next stage of the Cabinet’s mission, Tsai said. His achievements in public service are widely recognized and he will lead the government to overcome all challenges in achieving its goals, she added.
According to the president, Lai’s main tasks going forward include fast-tracking implementation of the five-plus-two innovative industries initiative and Forward-looking Infrastructure Program, enhancing labor safety and welfare while meeting the needs of industrial development, transforming Taiwan into a nuclear-free homeland and ensuring stable electricity supplies, and advancing the program of national reform.
In response, Lai said he was grateful for Tsai’s trust and will shoulder the responsibilities of the office without any reservation. Based on the foundations laid down by Lin, the president’s plans for development and reform will continue for the benefit of the people, he added.
Lai, who has headed the southern Taiwan metropolis since December 2010, is a former 11-year national legislator and physician. He is expected to be sworn in later this week along with a new Cabinet.
The appointment of Lai follows the resignation Sept. 3 of Lin, who said the time was ripe to hand over the reins as he had realized the first stage of the government’s policymaking agenda.
According to the premier, he first informed the president of his intention to step down in June. Most of the work on the tax reform bill has been completed, with the amendments set for legislative review next month, he said.
Although serving in the public sector had never been part of his career plan, Lin said he accepted the role because he believed it was his duty to help Tsai and ensure a smooth transfer of power, implement reforms under her policy platform and chart a clear course for long-term national development.
In a statement issued later the same day, Presidential Office Secretary-General Joseph Wu said Tsai is grateful for Lin’s contributions, especially in implementing reforms involving energy transformation, fiscal discipline, taxation and transitional justice.
Wu said the president also commended the premier for mapping out such policies as five-plus-two innovative industries initiative and Forward-looking Infrastructure Program, as well as a raft of additional measures like expanding social housing, mitigating air pollution, strengthening food security and upgrading child and long-term care. (SFC-E)
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