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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