BEIJING: The defeat of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party in local elections in Taiwan on Saturday reflected Taiwan people’s desire for a good life and their dissatisfaction with the party’s governance, analysts said.
Of the 21 county and city chief positions contested, the opposition Kuomintang party won 13, including in Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung and New Taipei City, compared to the DPP’s five wins, mainly in southern Taiwan.
Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen, who during campaigning promoted opposing the Chinese mainland and “defending Taiwan”, resigned as the chair of the DPP late Saturday to take responsibility for the party’s poor performance.
The Taiwan People’s Party secured one seat while the remaining two went to independent candidates. The election for the mayor of Chiayi City was postponed. County and city councilors, and township and village leaders were also elected during the elections.
Voters also rejected lowering the voting age from 20 to 18 in a so-called referendum that was run along with the local elections.
The local elections, held every four years, are regarded as a key test of support for the ruling DPP ahead of a “general election” scheduled for early 2024. This year’s results, represented the worst defeat the DPP has suffered in local elections. The party lost the mayoralty of three wealthy and populous cities in northern Taiwan, and its share of the vote slumped from 57 percent in the 2020 “general election” to 42 percent, data showed.
Commenting on the results of the elections, Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said, “It revealed that the mainstream public opinion in the island is for peace, stability and a good life.”
–The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
