The ruling party in China's Taiwan Province, the Democratic
Progressive Party (DPP), was defeated by the Pan Blue Alliance led
by the Chinese Kuomintang Party (KMT), in a local election on
Saturday.
Among the total 23 seats of county-level mayors, the KMT won 14
seats, compared with the former eight seats, and the ruling DPP won
six, down from 10, according to the results announced by the Taiwan
authorities late Saturday.
The DPP President Su Tseng-chang announced to resign for the
debacle in the election at about 8 PM, though the votes were
reaffirmed by the authorities later.
The election began at 8:00?AM Saturday.
The KMT also won Taipei County, the largest county in the island
with more than 3.4 million people and thus the focal grabbing point
-- while its allies, the People First Party (PFP), the New Party
and personages without party affiliations each won one.
"The election results indicate a vote of nonconfidence of the
public in the Taiwan authorities led by the DPP," said Ma
Ying-jeou, chairman of the KMT on Saturday evening. According to
relevant statutes in Taiwan, the new mayors at county-level will be
installed on Dec. 20.
Among the 901 seats of county councilors, the KMT won 408, the
DPP 192, the PFP 31, the "Taiwan Solidarity Union" 11, the NP two,
and personages without party affiliations 256.
Another seat will be decided through drawing lots due to two
people getting the same votes, according to the authorities. Among
the 319 positions of town level mayors, the KMT won 173, the DPP
35, the PFP three, the "Taiwan Solidarity Union" one and personages
without party affiliations 107.
(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2005)