Yeh Chu-lan

Yeh Chu-lan , born 1949, is a politician and the former acting mayor of Kaohsiung.

Rise in politics

Yeh entered politics after her husband, Cheng Nan-jung, a dissident, chose to commit suicide rather than be arrested in 1989.

In 1992, she was the deputy convener of the Democratic Progressive Party Caucus in Legislative Yuan, and convener in 1995. From 2000 to 2002, Yeh was third in the Cabinet in her position as Minister of Transportation and Communications. She was Chairperson of the Council for Hakka Affairs from 2002 to 2004. In 2004 she was named Vice Premier, as well as Minister of Consumer Protection and Minister responsible for the Council for Economic Planning and Development. In late 2005, she became the first female acting mayor of Kaohsiung when then-mayor Frank Hsieh was appointed .

Yeh was amongst the frontrunners to serve as DPP Frank Hsieh's vice-presidential running mate, however former Premier and DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang was eventually chosen for the role. Yeh is still likely to play a prominent role in the government should Hsieh be elected, with speculation that she would be named as Premier in a Hsieh administration.

Yeh, who worked in advertising for 17 years before becoming a lawmaker, is a graduate of Fu Jen Catholic University.