By James X. Morris
Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was handed a rebuke inwards the island’s 2018 midterm elections on Saturday, amongst voters showing widespread dissatisfaction amongst the party’s treatment of affairs over the past times 2 years. The DPP, which had seen meaning victories since Taiwan’s 2014 midterms, lost heavily on Nov 24, losing inwards 7 of the xiii counties as well as cities upwards for grabs. Particularly devastating were the serial of defeats suffered inwards the island’s south, the traditional stronghold of the DPP. President Tsai Ing-wen, who rode the 2016 moving ridge into the island’s highest office, tendered her resignation equally chairperson of the DPP inwards a hastily assembled press conference over the weekend (she will, however, rest equally president). Her premier, William Lai, also offered his resignation but Tsai has asked for him to perish along at his post.
Meanwhile, the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) secured several key victories, including taking several counties as well as cities inwards the island’s south, a portion considered the midpoint of DPP territory.
In the immediate aftermath of the election many Taiwanese stimulate got been preoccupied amongst the implications. The KMT, born on the Chinese mainland, by as well as large takes a softer opinion on cross-strait relations than the pro-independence DPP. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), which manages cross-strait relations amongst China, issued a statement alert against Beijing unilaterally interpreting the elections equally a sign the Taiwanese try unification amongst the People’s Republic. The MAC instead highlighted the results of the midterm equally a symbol of the robust democratic institutions enjoyed past times the Taiwanese.
The results of the election came equally a surprise to both parties. In politics the solely poll numbers that affair are the ones on election day; however, figures had indicated that the DPP silent holds an payoff over the KMT. Past KMT policies stimulate got wound Taiwan’s economy, as well as those who seat equally Taiwanese thought the political party equally beingness likewise pro-China at times.
Nevertheless, around Taiwanese stimulate got expressed concerns over the weekend that the midterms request an island-wide swing dorsum toward a KMT agenda. DPP policy over the past times 2 years has non been effective plenty to convince Taiwan’s civil lodge they stimulate got domestic issues nether control, as well as individually many Taiwanese experience left behind equally the DPP has pursued lofty goals. The past times 2 years of DPP regime inwards Taiwan stimulate got been defined past times 3 larger trends: the New Southbound Policy, an endeavour to found stronger linkages amongst southeast Asia equally a agency to clit Taiwan out of China’s orbit; domestic financial reforms, including addressing the stalled economic scheme as well as looming pension crisis; as well as a movement toward progressive policies as well as ideology, including legalization of gay matrimony as well as halting nuclear ability plants.
A ready of plebiscite items upwards for vote during the midterms may request the dissatisfaction amongst the perceived lack of attending paid to grounded issues. Items championed past times Taiwan’s progressives were rejected. However the regime is solely legally jump to deed upon ane of the referendums, according to the Taipei Times, amongst the overturning of phasing out nuclear ability having reached the necessary 25 percentage threshold. The key regime tin opt to non deed upon other items.
Election nighttime coverage plays on a tv inwards a full general shop inwards Taipei. At virtually 1 inwards the morn the ballots for Taipei’s mayoral race were silent beingness counted. Photo past times James X. Morris.
Some DPP lawmakers could regard the loss coming. In March the Taipei Times reported that lawmakers felt the unbalanced way inwards which the political party handled private sector as well as world sector pension cuts would house them at a disadvantage.
The 2 mayoral races to brand intelligence were those inwards Taipei as well as Kaohsiung. In Taipei, incumbent independent mayor Ko Wen-je eked out an apparent victory over KMT candidate Ting Shou-chung. Ting has filed for a recount, citing irregularities inwards voting. Polls shut at 8 pm inwards Taipei on Saturday, but ballots were silent beingness counted until virtually 3 am Sunday. In Kaohsiung, the midpoint of DPP territory, KMT outsider politico Han Kuo-yu rode to victory equally a black Equus caballus candidate. Supporters attributed his victory to dissatisfaction amongst the Tsai direction equally good equally his combination of grassroots politics as well as social media events.
It is clear the DPP suffered a major defeat; however, the political party remains inwards command of the key regime until elections inwards early on 2020. It received a severe rebuke from the voters, but it is non out of power. That is to say, the DPP is inwards a seat to realign its policy amongst society, larn from its mistakes, as well as tailor its message. The DPP’s loss could last an indicator of things to come, though it is to a greater extent than probable a chastisement than a KMT political insurgency.
The 2018 midterm elections were a plebiscite on DPP policy to a greater extent than than anything. However, the inflow of fresh immature candidates inwards both camps as well as a recognition that neither political party has had a pop key regime inwards the past times several election cycles (the KMT was dumped inwards 2014 as well as 2016, much equally the DPP was shellacked this year). Now, both parties, surprised past times the midterm results, must embark on a re-evaluation of policy, ideology, as well as candidates. The parties must endeavour an ikon makeover, entering novel frontiers, as well as offering novel substance.
Tsai had called a vote for the KMT a vote against democracy, but forthwith the DPP has learned they cannot assume past times election trends volition give them an slow run inwards the future. The run-up to 2020 looks to last a long, brutal, high-stakes fight.
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