Saturday, March 05, 2011

DPP keeps two seats in Tainan/Kaohsiung by-elections

The awesome Martin Williams reports for Kyodo:
Taiwan's opposition Democratic Progressive Party retained two seats in its southern island stronghold in legislative by-elections Saturday as support for the rival Nationalist Party collapsed, sending another warning to the ruling KMT ahead of legislative and presidential polls in late 2011 to early 2012.

The seats in Kaohsiung and Tainan were marginal wins of 2.1 percent and 3.3 percent for the pro-independence DPP in the 2008 legislative elections, but the KMT vote in Saturday's contests fell precipitously amid a low turnout.

DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen said the result sent the message that Taiwan "is longing for change" after three years of President Ma Ying- jeou's administration.
The scores were 69-30 K-town and 61-38 in Tainan. What does this mean for the Presidential and legislative elections up in 2012? Probably nothing. Overwhelmingly Green areas, no way the KMT candidates were going to win, so KMT turnout was not stimulated.
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6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, I do think the southern KMT legislators are in serious danger of being wiped out. That's not insignificant. Just as they said the DPP had become a party of the south or a "countryside" party, the KMT is in danger now of becoming a party of only the north. Things will only get worse when that happens.

Anonymous said...

Well, it can't be a bad thing.

I still doubt that Ma will be unseated - I think he'll still win a close re-election race - but the DPP is surviving and living strong.


Theres hope.

Anonymous said...

Why is the awesome Marty Williams as you call him in your puff everyone up way as if they all your best friends, you probablyu don't even know him but just want to curry favor with the literati or journorita on your island turf...... and Williams used to work for China Post, i do believe, why is he calling Taiwan a mere island, like the KMT commands him to do, see my **

TAIPEI, March 5 (AP) - (Kyodo)—Taiwan's opposition Democratic Progressive Party retained two seats in its southern **island stronghold in legislative by- elections Saturday

Isn't Taiwan a nation and not a mere island? But even Kyodo plays this kiss China game?

Glad i went back to old Blighty!

Trevor
UK
Cornwall

les said...

"Glad i went back to old Blighty! "

You're not the only one.

Anonymous said...

les, you glad because you don't like to stare truth in da face..... ye shall see one day, mate

Trevor
Cornwall lad

les said...

I don't think you would recognize the truth if you fell over it.