Talk of Cabinet Shuffle Continues 年前最後一次行政院會 內閣改組聲浪不斷

After much speculation, Premier Su will unveil the changes in the Executive Yuan after lawmakers finalize the general budget.

The Executive Yuan held its last meeting on the 19th before the Lunar New Year holiday begins. DPP legislators from the Taiwan Normal Country Promotion Association faction held a press conference earlier, calling for a younger, more diverse, and democratic Cabinet team. They suggested appointing councilors and city or county mayors as Cabinet members.

Chen Ou-po, Legislator (DPP): “The Cabinet should consist of more than one-third of its members being either legislators or city/county mayors. The new Cabinet should be more connected to the public.”

The Taiwan Normal Country Promotion Association seemed to be vouching for former Keelung City mayor Lin Yu-chang. Rumor has it that Lin will become the new Minster of the Interior. Economic Affairs Minister Wang Mei-hua and Minister of Transportation and Communications Wang Kwo-tsai will likely stay put. Former Vice President Chen Chien-jen has been said to take over Su as Premier, but Chen said he was not aware of such a development. There is also talk of the Cabinet reshuffle happening after the New Year holiday instead.

Su Chiao-hui, Legislator (DPP): “No matter what position, no matter what kind of job, he (Su Tseng-chang) would put his heart into it as long as he's working for Taiwan.”

Lo Ping-cheng, Spokesperson, Executive Yuan: “We have to wait until all budgets have been passed before reporting to the people.”

However, lawmakers still failed to come to a consensus on the surplus tax rebate legislative regulations before the final vote on the 19th. The KMT caucus held a press conference claiming that the DPP caucus is purposely delaying the process by not agreeing on changing the payment to NT$10,000. Legislative Yuan President You Si-kun is asking lawmakers from both sides to each take a step back.

Lai Shyh-bao, Legislator (KMT): “He (Su Tseng-chang) is clinging onto his position as the Premier and dragging out time. It's time for old Ker Chien-ming to come back to his senses and move on.”

Premier Su and related Cabinet members will report to the Legislative Yuan on the reshuffle after voting on the central government budget for 2023 is done.

內閣改組聲浪不斷，19日是年前最後一次行政院會，各界推測行政院長蘇貞昌將請辭。此時民進黨正國會多位立委召開記者會，呼籲新內閣應該「多元化、年輕化、民主化」，任用出身民意代表或縣市首長者擔任閣員。

民進黨立委陳歐珀呼籲：「三分之一以上由擔任立委，或者是縣市長來擔任，新的內閣組成應該有接地氣政府的一個思考。」

正國會此舉頗有替前基隆市長林右昌抬轎意味，傳出林右昌將接任內政部長，經濟部長王美花與交通部長王國材會留任，新任閣揆則是前副總統陳建仁，陳建仁18日回應沒有被徵詢，但也傳出過年後才會啟動改組的說法。

民進黨立委蘇巧慧指出：「不管在什麼樣的位置，不管是什麼樣的工作，只要能夠為台灣做事，都是他（蘇貞昌）喜歡的。」

行政院發言人羅秉成提及：「也要等到預算通過之後，才會一起跟各位跟國人報告。」

立法院19日總預算案要三讀，但發現金的全民共享特別條例卻是卡關沒有共識，國民黨團開記者會表示只要同意發1萬元，可以隨時簽字，是民進黨團刻意拖延，立法院長游錫堃則呼籲大家各退一步。

國民黨立委賴士葆表示：「（蘇貞昌）想要戀棧行政院長的職位，演出的一齣戲我們呼籲老柯，柯建銘回頭是岸。」

總預算案下午將進行表決，順利的話有望在傍晚完成三讀，到時行政院長蘇貞昌將到立法院致意，是否改組到時也將揭曉。