By KHT Staff
KAOHSIUNG — Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Kaohsiung mayoral hopeful and legislator Lai Jui-lung (賴瑞隆) on Wednesday said he felt both sadness and deep gratitude after the resignation of Chen Chu (陳菊) as president of the Control Yuan was formally approved following a year-long leave of absence.
According to United Daily News, Chen’s resignation was approved by the Presidential Office and will take effect on Feb. 1, 2026, ending her tenure at the watchdog body.
During Chen’s tenure as Kaohsiung mayor, Lai was promoted to several key municipal posts, including director of the Marine Bureau (海洋局), director of the Information Bureau (新聞局), and chief secretary of the Tourism Bureau (觀光局). He later went on to serve as a legislator and is now the DPP candidate for November’s Kaohsiung mayoral race.
Chen, a former Kaohsiung mayor and one of the DPP’s most influential southern leaders, has been a defining political figure in the city for decades. Her resignation marks the end of another chapter in a career that shaped both Kaohsiung’s development and the political trajectories of many younger party figures who rose under her leadership.
The presidential order approving the resignation of Chen Chu (陳菊) as president of the Control Yuan after more than a year on leave, however, prompted criticism from Kuomintang (KMT) legislator Wang Hung-wei (王鴻薇), who questioned both the timing and any potential successor.
Chen’s extended leave from office had drawn public debate. Commenting on the decision, Wang said it appeared Chen had taken leave “to the very limit,” and criticized President Lai for waiting until the last possible moment to approve the resignation. Wang said that if President Lai intends to nominate a new candidate to fill the position and the appointment is seen as political patronage, it would be better not to make a nomination at all.
Chen began her leave in late December 2024 and has been absent from her post for more than a year.
