President Tsai Ing-wen has invited Premier Su Tseng-chang to stay on in his position as she enters her second term. Su has served as Premier since early 2019. At the time, Tsai’s Democratic Progressive Party had recently suffered a landslide defeat in legislative elections.
Announcing her decision to keep him on in the post on Friday, Tsai said the Su had joined her Cabinet at a low point in her administration. She said that upon taking up his position, he started working to protect Taiwan from African Swine Fever, and that now, more than a year later, he is protecting Taiwan from COVID-19.
Tsai praised what she called Su’s familiarity with politics, his grasp of government policy, and his skill at communicating with everyday people. She pointed to his ability to reach political compromises, citing issues such as a program to replace old vehicles and the legalization of same-sex marriage.
She also said that Su has done much to encourage the return of Taiwanese companies from overseas, to promote economic growth and stability, to raise the minimum wage, to ensure childcare for parents, and to promote a new long-term care program for senior citizens and the disabled.
A recent poll by the group Taiwan Brain Trust indicates that Su’s approval rating stands at 68.9%.