President Adamant That I Couldn't Resign: Premier 蘇揆:總統提醒應堅守崗位 做出更好成績

Following the local elections, President Tsai Ing-wen resigned as party chair but refused to allow Premier Su Tseng-chang to resign from his post. There are reports of an impending Cabinet reshuffle, with Keelung City Mayor Lin Yu-chang possibly headed to the top post at the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.

President Tsai Ing-wen resigned as DPP chair following the party's massive defeat in the local elections. Premier Su Tseng-chang also tendered his resignation to Tsai, but was convinced by Tsai to stay on. On the 28th, Su said he would engage in deep introspection over the election results.

Su Tseng-chang, ROC Premier: “However, the president said there are many changes afoot both domestically and overseas, and we need to keep an eye on these changes and respond to them in a timely manner. She said I should remain at my post, and told me to perform even better than I have been.”

According to reports, the Cabinet will be reshuffled and Vice Premier Shen Jong-chin and Finance Minister Su Jain-rong are on their way out. The transportation and communications minister post, meanwhile, may be given to one of two outgoing municipal chiefs: Keelung City Mayor Lin Yu-chang or Pingtung County Magistrate Pan Men-an. Lin has experience in port management and tourism.

Wang Kwo-tsai, Transportation and Communications Minister: “He performed exceptionally well in Keelung, so I think he would be very suitable for any post. The decision is in the hands of the Presidential Office and Executive Yuan.”

Lo Chih-cheng, DPP Caucus Whip: “If the Cabinet is reshuffled, incoming ministers would immediately have to submit a new administrative report for review. Budgets would also have to be reviewed again. Chinese New Year came earlier than usual this year so there definitely won't be enough time. So, in my opinion, it isn't the best time to reshuffle the Cabinet.”

The reshuffle is expected to take place in January, after the legislative by-election in Taipei is held. Lo Chih-cheng, who lost his election, says the DPP should be focusing on boosting morale and listening to voters to get out of its current state.

民進黨九合一選舉大敗，總統蔡英文辭黨主席，行政院長蘇貞昌雖然第一時間口頭請辭，卻遭到蔡英文慰留。蘇貞昌28日親上火線回應，對於選舉結果會深切檢討，但總統提醒要堅守崗位。

行政院長蘇貞昌表示：「總統特別提醒，面對國內外瞬息萬變的嚴峻形勢，我們要緊盯而且隨時應變，應該堅守崗位，同時要做出更好的成績。」

雖然蘇貞昌被慰留，不過內閣改組聲浪再起。行政院副院長沈榮津、財政部長蘇建榮被點名可能因此下台。而基隆市長林右昌和屏東縣長潘孟安則被看好入閣，交通部長一職可能交給具有港口觀光經驗的林右昌。

交通部長王國材回應：「林右昌在基隆的表現非常優秀，所以我覺得他擔任任何職務都非常的適任，變動那是由府院來做一個決定。」

民進黨團幹事長羅致政指出：「如果現在就換，馬上面臨就是施政報告要重送、預算要重審的問題，因為今年的過年比較早，所以程序上一定會來不及。所以我覺得現階段改組內閣並不是一個最好的時機。」

至於小幅改組的時間點，估計會落在明年1月台北市立委補選結束後。面對這次挫敗羅致政也建議，民進黨的決策要更「接地氣」，黨內檢討也要走出同溫層，才能更積極反映民意。