Taiwan premier, cabinet submit resignations ahead of reshuffle

TAIWAN Premier Su Tseng-chang submitted his resignation along with that of his cabinet to President Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday (Jan 19), ahead of a widely expected government reshuffle, but there was no immediate word of his successor.

Su’s stepping down follows the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) trouncing at local polls in November, and comes as Taiwan gears up for presidential and parliamentary elections in early 2024.

In a post on his Facebook page, Su said he had asked Tsai to appoint a new cabinet and bring in new people.

Cabinet spokesman Lo Ping-cheng said in a separate statement said that Su and his cabinet would formally step down once Tsai had confirmed their replacements.

Su, 75, had originally submitted his resignation after the November poll losses, but Tsai asked him to stay on.

Taiwan media has swirled with speculation about who will replace him, but with the 10-day Chinese New Year holiday beginning on Friday, his successor may not be announced until after the vacation is over.

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Su, who has served as premier since 2019, is known for his pithy remarks and slick, often humorous, social media presence. He has also been repeatedly critical of China, calling the country an “evil neighbour” last August as Beijing carried out war games near the island.

Su was one of the original founders of the DPP in 1986, when Taiwan was still under martial law. REUTERS