Taiwan premier says Cabinet will resign in accordance with past practice

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan Premier Chen Chien-jen said on Tuesday that the Cabinet will resign in accordance with past constitutional practice before the new parliament meets next month after the ruling party lost its majority in the legislature.

He did not give an exact date, but the new parliament meets on Feb. 1 following elections on Saturday.

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party won the presidential election, but lost its majority in parliament. Neither of Taiwan's other parties, the Kuomintang (KMT) and the much smaller Taiwan People's Party, won majorities either.

Under Taiwan's system of government, the president appoints the premier, who then forms a Cabinet, and signs legislation into law.

Given president-elect Lai Ching-te's party will not have a parliamentary majority, he may have to reach across the aisle and appoint a premier and Cabinet that include opposition or non-party figures to enable legislation to be passed.

The KMT said on Tuesday it will "definitely fulfil the role of largest party" in parliament and "exert the strongest supervisory power".

TPP Chairman Ko Wen-je wrote on his Facebook page on Monday that their eight lawmaker seats out of 113 made them the "crucial minority".

The DPP won 51 seats and the KMT 52.

While the new parliament meets from next month, Lai will not take over as president until May 20.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Neil Fullick)