TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) has agreed to the resignation of Chen Chu (陳菊) as president of the Control Yuan and chair of the National Human Rights Commission, reports said Wednesday.

Chen, 75, has been recovering at Kaohsiung Medical University’s Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital since December 2024. A visit for the flu led to the discovery of a tumor in her kidney, with surgery followed by a brain embolism.

The hospital said Wednesday that she was making progress, per CNA. Earlier reports had said Chen was planning a return to work.

The Presidential Office said Wednesday that Lai had approved the resignation, which will become effective on Feb. 1, the Liberty Times reported. Chen has led the top government watchdog body since 2020.

The Yilan native spent six years in jail during the Martial Law period before joining the Democratic Progressive Party and serving as labor minister. She served as mayor of Kaohsiung from 2006 to 2018, the longest period for any mayor of the southern city in modern times.