Taiwan’s Health Minister Chen Shih-chung handed in his resignation on Thursday. He will now run in November’s Taipei mayoral elections on the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) ticket.
Chen is regarded as a central figure in Taiwan’s fight against COVID-19. Besides serving as the country’s health minister, he also headed the Central Epidemic Command Center — a body coordinating pandemic prevention measures.
Chen is popular among Taipei residents. Public opinion polls put him ahead of his two rivals: the Kuomintang’s Wayne Chiang and Taipei’s current Deputy Mayor Vivian Huang.
Critics from the opposition Kuomintang call Chen a “fleeing minister.” The party’s chairman, Eric Chu, said on Wednesday that Chen shouldn’t leave his post while the country is still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
In response, Chen says he performed his job cautiously and conscientiously. He says he is confident that his successor will do a good job fighting the pandemic.
Government spokesperson Lo Ping-cheng said on Thursday that Chen’s resignation is yet to be approved. He says Chen is still the health minister, while the cabinet is looking for a suitable replacement.