FSC Chairman Sean Chen named to succeed Chu

"Vice Premier" Eric Liluan Chu announced his resignation Thursday, saying he will devote his energy to his campaign for the office of Xinbei City mayor, a new super municipality that will be created later this year with the upgrading Taipei County.

"I submitted my resignation to Premier Wu Den-yih Wednesday after the Kuomintang formally nominated me earlier in the day as its candidate for the Xinbei City mayoral election in November," Chu said at a news conference at the Government Information Office, adding that "Premier" Wu has accepted his resignation and said at the weekly Executive Yuan meeting Thursday that he respected his decision.

During his eight-plus months of service as Wu's deputy, Chu said, he has worked wholeheartedly with other Cabinet members to make Taiwan a better place.

He said that in the next six months, he will travel around Taipei County to reach out to its residents and try to win their support for his policies and vision for development.

If he wins the pivotal election, Chu said, he will be able to attend the weekly meetings of the Executive Yuan again.

"As a local government head, I would work in concert with the central government to develop Xinbei City into a world-class metropolis," he promised.

On the possibility that Financial Supervisory Commission Chairman Sean Chen would succeed him as vice premier, Chu said "Premier" Wu will make a formal announcement on the new Cabinet lineup at a news conference later.

"I'm not in a position to talk about any personnel matters at this moment," he said.

Nevertheless, Chu said that Chen is one of his old friends.

"When I was teaching at National Taiwan University, Chen was deputy director of the Bureau of Monetary Affairs. We met often during that period," he recalled.

An announcement later by Wu confirmed what had been widely speculated when he named Chen to succeed Chu for the VP office.

Describing Chen as a man of sincerity, competence and diligence, Chu said he is confident that Chen would be able to take over his job seamlessly.

"There would be no glitches in such a changeover and he would definitely do a better job than I," Chu said.

On the upgrading of Taipei County to the status of a municipality, Chu said incumbent Taipei County Magistrate Chou Hsi-wei has made "an enormous contribution."

"I admire his achievements," he added.

As to whether he will ask Chou to serve as his campaign manager, Chu said he will respect Chou's personal wishes.

"In any case, we will work hand-in-hand on the campaign trail," he stressed.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 05/14/2010 page8)