TAIPEI - Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang submitted his resignation along with that of his Cabinet to President Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday ahead of a widely expected government reshuffle, but there was no immediate word about his successor.

Mr Su’s move follows the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) trouncing at local polls in November, and comes as Taiwan gears up for presidential and parliamentary elections in early 2024.

In a Facebook post, Mr Su said he had asked Ms Tsai to appoint a new Cabinet so she could bring in new people.

Cabinet spokesman Lo Ping-cheng said in a separate statement that Mr Su and his Cabinet would formally step down once Ms Tsai had confirmed their replacements.

The presidential office said the process of choosing a new Cabinet will take place during the 10-day Chinese New Year holiday beginning on Friday so the new team will be ready once the break is over.

Mr Su, 75, had originally submitted his resignation after the November poll losses, but Ms Tsai asked him to stay on.

Taiwan media has swirled with speculation about who will replace him.

Mr Su, who has served as premier since 2019, is known for his pithy remarks and slick, often humorous, social media presence. He has also been repeatedly critical of China, calling the country an “evil neighbour” last August as Beijing carried out war games around the island.

Mr Su is one of the original founders of the DPP, established in 1986 when Taiwan was still under martial law.

Taiwan’s Vice-President William Lai had pledged on Wednesday to maintain the peaceful status quo with China, but also to defend Taiwan, as he took the helm at the DPP ahead of an expected presidential run.

Mr Lai was elected the DPP’s new chairman on Sunday, after President Tsai resigned as chairman in November following the DPP’s trouncing at local elections.

Mr Lai is widely expected to be the party’s candidate for president in the early 2024 election, though he has not formally accepted the nomination. Ms Tsai cannot run again as president due to constitutional term limits. REUTERS