Mr. Ma Ying-jeou and Mr. Vincent C. Siew were sworn in as the twelfth-term President and Vice President of the ROC (Taiwan) on the morning of May 20 in a stately ceremony.
The inauguration ceremony for the twelfth-term president and vice president was held in the auditorium of the Presidential Building at 9:00 a.m. Outgoing President Chen Shui-bian and President-elect Ma Ying-jeou and Mrs. Ma were escorted to the auditorium by the Presidential Building's Chief of Protocol. Military officers led the way for the president and president-elect. As President Chen and President-elect Ma entered the auditorium, those in attendance to witness the ceremony stood up to express their respect.
The ceremony began at 9:00 a.m. sharp. President Chen, seated in the front row, stood and led the gathering in singing the national anthem of the ROC (Taiwan) and bowing three times before a picture of the nation's founding father Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Judicial Yuan President Lai In-jaw, who is the Chairman of the Council of Grand Justices, then assumed his position as the official witness of the proceedings. President-elect Ma Ying-jeou then stood and took his position, preparing to take the Oath of Office.
After a brief interlude of inaugural music, President-elect then raised his right hand before the national flag of the ROC (Taiwan) and the nation's founding father and recited the oath: "I do solemnly and sincerely swear before the people of the whole country that I will observe the Constitution, faithfully perform my duties, promote the welfare of the people, safeguard the security of the State, and will in no way betray the people's trust. Should I break my oath, I shall be willing to submit myself to severe punishment by the State. This is my solemn oath." After reciting the oath, he handed the written oath to Judicial Yuan President Lai In-jaw.
Next, Vice President-elect Vincent C. Siew assumed the position where he would take the Oath of Office. He stood before the national flag of the ROC (Taiwan) and raised his right hand before a picture of the nation's founding father Dr. Sun Yat-sen. He then recited the oath, "I do solemnly and sincerely swear before the people of the whole country that I will observe the Constitution and pledge loyalty to the State. Should I break my oath, I shall be willing to submit myself to severe punishment by the State. This is my solemn oath." After reciting the oath, he handed the written oath to Judicial Yuan President Lai In-jaw.
Upon taking the oaths, the ceremonies of transferring the Presidential and Vice Presidential Seals were carried out. President Ma Ying-jeou received the Seal of the Republic of China (Taiwan), the Seal of Honor, the Presidential Seal and Stamp from Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng. Vice President Siew followed by accepting the Vice Presidential Seal from Legislative Yuan President Wang.
The stately ceremony then came to a conclusion. Former President Chen Shui-bian and Former Vice President Annette Lu then were escorted by President Ma and Vice President Siew out of the auditorium and then through the halls of the Presidential Building where staff members were waiting to bid them farewell. This marked the end to the eight years in office of President Chen and Vice President Lu.