The results of the Nov. 27 special municipality elections could deal a blow to President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) cross-strait policies, the head election coordinator for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday.
The polls, which will be held in the nation’s five most populous municipalities, “could be interpreted in a way that pits pro-China policies against policies that protect Taiwan,” former premier Yu Shyi-kun (游錫堃) told a media briefing.
Yu suggested that the effectiveness of the two agendas could be easily influenced by whether voters choose DPP candidates or Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) candidates later this month.
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Voters in the five special municipality elections represent 60 percent of the total population and the five most economically developed areas, including Taipei City. The elections are seen as an important precursor to the legislative elections next year and the presidential election in 2012.
Calling the poll a “midterm test” for the president, Yu said: “We will likely see a reshuffle across the pan-blue and pan-green political landscapes” following the results.
In terms of the opposition party’s definition of winning the tightly fought race, Yu was evasive, reminding the public that Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) lost his re-election bid for Taipei mayor in 1998 to Ma, despite securing more votes than in 1994. Chen went on to win the presidency in 2000.
During the same poll in 1998, former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) narrowly beat current Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) in Kaohsiung.
It was an example of a tie, he said, adding that the improved performance did not necessarily translate into an increase in the number of seats.
The DPP could either “win, lose or even tie” the coming election race, he said.
His comments were likely made to downplay earlier remarks made by DPP Secretary-General Wu Nai-jen (吳乃仁), who said that DPP Chairperson and Sinbei City mayoral candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) would have to step down in the event of an electoral defeat according to DPP tradition.
Meanwhile, Yu said DPP candidates would focus on consolidating votes in areas and population segments that have historically voted for the DPP during the final 24 days of their campaigns.
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