Su Zhenchang resigned as the Premier on the 19th. President Tsai Ing-wen said that the ruling team will start the cabinet reshuffle during the Lunar New Year, and the new cabinet will be positioned quickly following the year. Vice President Lai Qingde, who is also the chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party, was asked regarding the cabinet reshuffle today and said that he respected President Tsai’s arrangement, “Once the president makes a decision, we will fully support it.”
In the morning, Lai Qingde went to Jinshan District of New Taipei City and his hometown Wanli District to pay his respects, and distributed red envelopes to the people. In an interview with the media, he said that he prayed to the gods to bless the country and the people of Taiwan with peace and good weather. I hope that in 2023 everyone will have a very good year, the family will be safe and happy, and the Year of the Rabbit will have great luck. Regarding the resignation of Premier Su Zhenchang and the reshuffle of the cabinet, he said that this is the power of the president and respects the president’s arrangements.
Asked by the media, in the past, President Tsai went to Dharma Drum Mountain to attend the bell-ringing event on New Year’s Eve, but this evening it was attended by Vice President Lai. Vice President Lai said that in the past, President Tsai participated in the event in person, not only to bless the people of the whole country, but also to pray for the country. However, this year the president is busy with official affairs, so he is specially invited to participate in the activities on behalf of Dharma Drum Mountain.
The media asked whether the president’s busy schedule was related to the cabinet reshuffle. Vice President Lai said that President Tsai was busy with many state affairs. The complicated international situation and various domestic challenges did not stop because of the New Year. It works 24 hours a day, and it coincides with a cabinet reshuffle, which should be a very important job for President Tsai at the moment.
In addition, the media asked whether Zheng Wencan, who was found plagiarized by Taiwan University and revoked his master’s degree, was suitable to take over as deputy cabinet secretary when Lai Qingde was elected as the chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party and said he wanted to solve academic ethics issues. Vice President Lai said that the core direction of party affairs that he announced to the people of the whole country when he was elected as the party chairman will be promoted one by one in the future.