KMT lawmakers demand full Cabinet reshuffle after DPP drubbing

Taipei, Dec. 2 (CNA) Opposition Kuomintang (KMT) legislators have called for a full Cabinet reshuffle, saying the Cabinet led by Premier Lai Ching-te (???) of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has lost its legitimacy after the party's major defeat in Taiwan's local elections on Nov. 24.

Taiwan's people cast a vote of no-confidence against the DPP administration through the elections, and the Cabinet should be overhauled, KMT legislative caucus secretary-general Tseng Ming-chung (???) said at a press conference Sunday.

The KMT won control of 15 of Taiwan's 22 cities and counties in the local government elections, a net pickup of nine seats, dealing an embarrassing defeat to the ruling DPP led by President Tsai Ing-wen (???), which ended up with only six seats, down from 13 previously.

The KMT lawmakers made their appeal after Lai accepted on Saturday the resignations of three Cabinet officials -- Environmental Protection Administration chief Lee Ying-yuan (???), Ministry of Transportation and Communications head Wu Hong-mo (???) and Council of Agriculture chief Lin Tsung-hsien (???).

Tseng said Central Election Commission (CEC) Vice Chairman Chen Chiao-chien (???), Education Minister Yeh Jiunn-rong (???), Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (???) and the heads of the Ill-gotten Party Assets Settlement Committee, the National Communications Commission and government agencies responsible for national security should also get the boot.

Tseng suggested that the government choose people for a new Cabinet based only on their ability and expertise rather than political affiliation and ideology.

The new Cabinet should also focus on spurring economic growth by addressing the shortages of land, water, power, manpower, and talent facing Taiwanese manufacturers and solving the problem of low wages in Taiwan to meet the people's expectations, he said.

KMT Legislator Ko Chih-en (???) said President Tsai Ing-wen (???) defeated KMT rival Eric Chu (???) by 3.08 million votes in the 2016 presidential election, but the DPP lost to the KMT by 1.2 million votes in the Nov. 24 local government elections.

The loss of 4.28 million votes reflected disillusionment in the Tsai administration, Ko said, and she questioned whether the DPP had done enough to take responsibility for its defeat simply by letting go of three ministers and Wu Yin-ning (???), general manager of Taipei Agricultural Products Marketing Corp.

In response, DPP legislative caucus secretary-general Cheng Yun-peng (???) said the DPP caucus respected the Executive Yuan's steps and methods in adjusting its structure.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel