President Chen (L) handed some powers over to Prime Minister Su

Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian's decision to give up some powers after a corruption scandal implicating his son-in-law, Chao Chien-ming, has left the country's papers asking whether the move will be enough.

Most commentators conclude that Mr Chen's pledge to hand the day-to-day running of the island to Prime Minister Su Tseng-chang is an act of desperation that fails to address the root of the problem, though at least one applauds his decision to delegate power.

So President Chen Shui-bian has bowed to snowballing scandals and declared himself a lame duck... The stain of corruption has tainted Chen. Even if he is completely honest, he has surrounded himself with the crooked and the corrupt... The basic problem is that, regardless of what happens to Chen, Su is going to be left with the unenviable task of cleaning up the mess.

Chen Shui-bian's "three decisions and one resolution" cannot stop the bleeding. If he wants to stop the bleeding, then the following must be done at the very least: First, in order to stop the country bleeding, Chao Chien-ming should admit his guilt. Second, in order to stop the Democratic Progressive Party bleeding, Chen Shui-bian must resign from the party.

In order to eliminate the build-up of corrupt poison for Taiwan, all personnel affairs and corruption cases which his wife, son-in-law, two deputy secretaries and three lawyers have been involved in or meddled in during the last six years must be cleaned up first... President Chen's declaration on "delegating power and restraining his family" is only a tactical response in the face of a political power struggle.

We still believe that President Chen's declaration on delegating power was obviously a decision made after deep soul-searching, and by no means a compromise tactic to ease pressure.

We hope that President Chen's self-criticism and reform measures as a result of the First Family's alleged involvement in corruption cases can be expanded and elevated to an examination and new start for the administration of the ruling party... so that the concrete goals of maintaining national development, guaranteeing social stability, improving the atmosphere in society, and promoting the rights and interests of the people can be attained.

What's ironic is that one of Chen Shui-bian's magic weapons to build up his fame was opposing black gold [money politics]... Who would have thought that he would fall into the mire of corruption several years later? His little family has actually earned a heap of profits, but the wallets of the Taiwan people have shrunk, the island economy has been in recession, competitiveness has dropped sharply, and Chen Shui-bian has tricked ordinary Taiwanese.

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