2005.01.25 The Straits Times
Frank Hsieh named as new Taiwan premier
TAIPEI - Taiwan's president on Tuesday named a skillful negotiator from his party as the new premier in a government reshuffle.
President Chen Shui-bian named Frank Hsieh, mayor of Taiwan's second largest city of Kaohsiung, to replace Mr Yu Shyi-kun, who has been premier for three years.
A strategist in the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, 58-year-old Mr Hsieh will be Taiwan's No. 3 ranking leader. The premier heads the Cabinet and brings government policy to the legislature.
Mr Hsieh faces the difficult task of reconciliation with the opposition alliance of the Nationalist Party and the smaller People First Party, which has retained a slim legislative majority after last December's elections. Animosity had led to legislative gridlock that blocked most of the president's policy initiatives over the past four years.
But analysts said Mr Hsieh, a witty man with a softer posture, could do better than his predecessor in pursuing policy consensus with the opposition.
He is also expected to cooperate with the president, who decides the island's defence and China policies.
The two men have been longtime rivals as both began their careers as attorneys and later became lawmakers. Mr Chen defeated Mr Hsieh for the DPP's top post, later becoming the first opposition leader to be elected president in 2000. -- AP |
