Taiwan gets new PM

Taipei Sep 5 (IANS) Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Tuesday announced appointment of Tainan Mayor Lai Ching-te as the new Prime Minister in an effort to boost waning public support.

At a press conference she announced Lai 57 would replace Lin Chuan who resigned on Monday Efe news agency reported.

Lin s resignation came as Tsai s popularity has dropped below 30 per cent down from 70 per cent when she took office in May 2016.

A strained relationship with Beijing unpopular pension and labour reforms and a huge power outage last month that left thousands across the country without electricity had increased the pressure on Tsai to replace Lin.

Lai a doctor from the southern city of Tainan started his political career in the 1990s when he won a seat in the then National Assembly followed by seats in the Parliament in 2001 2004 and 2008.

He has been Mayor of Tainan a stronghold of the reigning Democratic Progressive Party since 2010.

--IANS
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