Premier Mao Chi-kuo has called for a focus on the issues facing the government rather than on his request to resign his position.
Mao and the rest of the Cabinet announced their resignation on Monday. The move follows the defeat of their party, the Kuomintang, in Saturday’s general elections. However, President Ma Ying-jeou has not given his approval. Meanwhile President Elect Tsai Ing-wen refused to organize a new cabinet prior to taking office on constitutional grounds.
In a statement delivered by the Cabinet’s spokesperson Thursday, Mao apologized for any difficulty his resignation may have caused. He said Thursday that he will not change his mind. He also said he has taken a leave of absence that will last through Tsai Ing-wen’s inauguration on May 20. In the meantime, he will not be accepting his salary.
Mao said that the focus should move away from his resignation. Instead, he said that issues like avoiding a government shutdown, setting up a new cabinet, and dealing with economic difficulties deserve attention.