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.
Civil society groups yesterday protested outside the Legislative Yuan, decrying Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) efforts to pass three major bills that they said would seriously harm Taiwan’s democracy, and called to oust KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅?萁). It was the second night of the three-day “Bluebird wintertime action” protests in Taipei, with organizers announcing that 8,000 people attended. Organized by Taiwan Citizen Front, the Economic Democracy Union (EDU) and a coalition of civil groups, about 6,000 people began a demonstration in front of KMT party headquarters in Taipei on Wednesday, organizers said. For the third day, the organizers asked people to assemble
Taipei is participating in Osaka’s Festival of Lights this year, with a 3m-tall bubble tea light installation symbolizing Taiwan’s bubble tea culture. The installation is designed as a bubble tea cup and features illustrations of Taipei’s iconic landmarks, such as Taipei 101, the Red House and North Gate, as well as soup dumplings and the matchmaking deity the Old Man Under the Moon (月下老人), affectionately known as Yue Lao (月老). Taipei and Osaka have collaborated closely on tourism and culture since Taipei first participated in the festival in 2018, the Taipei City Department of Information and Tourism said. In February, Osaka represented
POOR IMPLEMENTATION: Teachers welcomed the suspension, saying that the scheme disrupted school schedules, quality of learning and the milk market A policy to offer free milk to all school-age children nationwide is to be suspended next year due to multiple problems arising from implementation of the policy, the Executive Yuan announced yesterday. The policy was designed to increase the calcium intake of school-age children in Taiwan by drinking milk, as more than 80 percent drink less than 240ml per day. The recommended amount is 480ml. It was also implemented to help Taiwanese dairy farmers counter competition from fresh milk produced in New Zealand, which is to be imported to Taiwan tariff-free next year when the Agreement Between New Zealand and
Taiwanese professional baseball should update sports stadiums and boost engagement to enhance fans’ experience, Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) commissioner Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) told the Liberty Times (sister paper of the Taipei Times) in an interview on Friday. The league has urged Farglory Group and the Taipei City Government to improve the Taipei Dome’s outdated equipment, including relatively rudimentary television and sound systems, and poor technology, he said. The Tokyo Dome has markedly better television and sound systems, despite being 30 years old, because its managers continually upgraded its equipment, Tsai said. In contrast, the Taipei Dome lacked even a room for referees
RSS