Update: 2022-07-13 18:00
Chen will resign from his current position as the health minister on Thursday (July 14) after a Cabinet meeting, according to his aides.
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Wednesday (July 13) lauded the mayoral candidates for Taipei and New Taipei as “two arrows” that will thrust Taiwan forward in the post-COVID era.
Tsai made the remark at an event in which the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) officially nominated health minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) to run for the mayor of the capital and former transportation minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) for the head of the most populous city, New Taipei.
Praising Chen for his commendable leadership in the country’s COVID-19 response, Tsai said city governance requires the same qualities as a commander-in-chief in a health crisis, wrote Liberty Times. “Taipei as the political and economic center needs a mayor that is composed, has execution skills, and can build social consensus,” she noted.
Lin, who has devoted himself to democratic reforms since his school days, is a political veteran, having held public office on both local and cabinet levels, Tsai said. Describing Lin as a forward-looking figure, she expressed great confidence in him as a competent leader for the metropolis.
The latest EBC News poll released Wednesday put Chen in the lead with a 25.8% support, trailed by Kuomintang (KMT) candidate, Legislator Chiang Wan-an’s (蔣萬安) 21.8% and potential rival, Taipei Deputy Mayor Huang Shan-shan (黃珊珊), who has a 18.8% backing. Lin will be competing against incumbent New Taipei Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) of the KMT in November's local elections.
