DATE=3/24/2000 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=TAIWAN - POLITICS (L-ONLY) NUMBER=2-260544 BYLINE=DERRICK MCELHERON DATELINE=TAIPEI CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: Taiwan's President Lee Teng-hui has officially resigned his post as leader of the island's ruling Nationalist party. As Derrick McElheron reports from Taipei, his temporary replacement, Vice President Lien Chan, is promising that fundamental changes will be made to Taiwan1s oldest party. TEXT: With smiles and handshakes from faithful party members, President Lee left an emergency Nationalist party meeting, no longer head of the party. The now former chairman had little to say to waiting reporters. /// ACT LEE IN CHINESE /// President Lee said, "thank-you and good bye" and then walked away. Shortly after the President's departure, acting Party Chairman Lien Chan told reporters at a news conference, his main mission in coming months would be to try to rehabilitate the party. The Vice President said the new Nationalist Party will strive for a younger leadership, more diversified membership and a more Taiwanese feel. A permanent chairman is expected to be named at a party meeting in June. President Lee1s resignation marks a dramatic fall from grace for the leader who had become known as "Mr. Democracy." He had been credited with leading the island out of decades of authoritarian rule and ending almost 40 years of martial law. But after Saturday's humiliating defeat, many Nationalist lawmakers feared the party might suffer wide-spread defections that could wipe out their parliamentary majority. President Lee was roundly blamed for the election loss. He was accused of not campaigning hard enough for Vice President Lien Chan and held responsible for the bitter split with former Nationalist member James Soong. Mr. Soong ran for president as an independent and came in a close second to the winner, Chen Shui- bian. Shortly after the election President Lee found himself confronted by members urging him to step down. President Lee leaves a legacy of democracy and a bustling economy in Taiwan. But he also leaves his party plagued with factionalism. Many former supporters are now standing behind Mr. Soong. Although he is no longer the leader of his party, President Lee will remain the leader of Taiwan until officially handing over the position to President elect Chen Shui-Bian, who will be inaugurated in May. NEB/DM/FC/PLM 24-Mar-2000 02:59 AM EDT (24-Mar-2000 0759 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
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