TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday asked the ministerial cabinet led by Premier Chen Chien-jen to stay on and ensure a smooth handover after it submitted its customary post-election joint resignation.
The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won Saturday's presidential election but lost its majority in parliament.
Chen had said on Tuesday, after the DPP lost it legislative majority, that the cabinet would resign in accordance with past constitutional practice before the new parliament meets next month.
After the cabinet submitted its resignation request earlier on Thursday, Tsai's office said she asked Chen to remain in office and lead his team and "demonstrate Taiwan's democratic maturity through a steady handover".
Tsai's decision had already been widely reported by Taiwanese media.
Vice President Lai Ching-te, who won the presidency, assumes his new role on May 20 and will appoint his own cabinet.
Cabinet spokesman Lin Tzu-lun told a press conference that after the resignation the cabinet would be in a caretaker period and keep working.
"The election is over, but the country cannot be without a government," Lin said, speaking after the weekly cabinet meeting.
The new session of parliament opens on Feb. 1.
Tsai was not able to run again for the presidency in accordance with Taiwan's constitution after two terms in office.
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Tom Hogue)
