Ma resigns as KMT chief, names new cabinet boss

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Ma resigns as KMT chief; names new cabinet boss

PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 03 December, 2014, 2:29pm
UPDATED : Thursday, 04 December, 2014, 1:49am

Lawrence Chung in Taipei [email protected]

Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou bows after announcing his resignation from the Kuomintang in Taipei. Photo: Reuters

Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou yesterday named a new cabinet head, as he bowed out as chairman of the ruling Kuomintang.

Vice-Premier Mao Chi-kuo will replace Dr Jiang Yi-huah as the new cabinet head after Jiang led some 80 officials in a mass resignation on Monday to take responsibility for the KMT's landslide defeat in local elections at the weekend, the Presidential Office said.

"As Mao Chi-kuo has been vice-premier for one year and 10 months and is familiar with cabinet affairs, his appointment to head the cabinet will facilitate a seamless succession of the old and new cabinet," presidential spokeswoman Ma Wei-kuo said.

Mao, 66, well versed in transportation and telecommunications affairs, said yesterday he had decided to take over the job and would closely work with local governments to address the needs of the public.

Mao is expected to form the fifth cabinet under the Ma administration in a bid to avert any political chaos arising after the KMT suffered its worst electoral setback since coming to power in 1949.

"At this time, it is highly necessary for the KMT to unite in order to ensure political stability," said Kao Yu-jen, former speaker of the defunct Taiwan Provincial Assembly. Prominent KMT members are expected to battle for the party's top post following Ma's resignation.

The KMT was only able to capture five of 16 cities and counties and one of six municipalities during the local elections, down from the 15 it held under the previous election.

"The KMT suffered an unprecedented setback in this local election, and as chairman, I must apologise to all our supporters … and take full responsibility for such a defeat … by resigning as KMT chairman," Ma said as he offered a deep 10-second bow of apology during a KMT central standing committee meeting yesterday.

Vice-President Wu Den-yih later took over as the KMT's interim chairman and a new leader is expected to be elected before the end of next month.

Ma Ying-jeou waves to his party colleagues after his resignation. Photo: AFP

MA YING-JEOU

July 13, 1950 – Born in Hong Kong

1972 – Graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the National Taiwan University’s College of Law

1976 – Graduated with a Masters of Law from New York University

1977 – Married Chow Mei-ching, with whom he has two daughters, Ma Wei-chung and Ma Yuan-chung

1981 – Graduated as a Doctor of Juridical Sciences from Harvard Law School; became deputy director of Taiwan’s First Bureau of the Presidential Office

1986 – Assigned by then Taiwanese president Chiang Ching-kuo to relax restrictions on cross-strait relations and reform parliament

1988 – Appointed to chairman of the Research, Development and Evaluation Commission of the Executive Yuan; assigned to form the Mainland Affairs Task Force.

1991 – Became vice-chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council while serving as Kuomintang representative-at-large in the Second National Assembly

1993 – Appointed Minister of Justice; launched a campaign against corruption and drugs

1998 – Challenged and defeated then Taipei mayor Chen Shui-bian of the Democratic Progressive Party, and later secured a second term

2005 – Became KMT chairman, winning 73 per cent of votes

February 13, 2007 – Indicted on corruption charges in connection with a special allowance fund; tendered resignation as KMT chairman and announced presidential bid for 2008

March 22, 2008 – Elected to the president of the Republic of China

May 20, 2008 – Pledged, in inauguration speech, to ease regulatory restrictions, deepen Taiwan’s regional economic integration and transform Taiwan into a “peacemaker”

May 20, 2012 – Sworn in for second term of presidency

December 3, 2014 – Resigned as KMT chairman