The Tsunami of Vox Populi Casts a Vote of No Confidence in the Tsai Gov’t

 The Tsunami of Vox Populi Casts a Vote of No Confidence in the Tsai Gov’t

United Daily News Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan)

November 25, 2018

 Translation of an Excerpt

When Tsai Ing-wen was elected President over two years ago, she passionately called on the people to "welcome Taiwan’s new era." Two and a half years on, the "new era" that she pledged had not arrived. Tsai and the Democratic Progressive Party she led suffered a violent attack by the tsunami of vox populi in Saturday's elections. Reasons are no others: the arrogance and abuse of power of the DPP government has reached an extent that the people could no longer tolerate, while Tsai Ing-wen’s coldness and indifference for popular opinion has led her to lose legitimacy as being the nation’s leader. These elections are a vote of no confidence in her.

Several unusual characteristics are found in this year's elections, outlining the people of Taiwan's expectations for "new politics"; this is something that both the ruling and opposition parties should not overlook. These characteristics include: First, in the past, the DPP has done wonders in such tactics as playing the card of provincial origins, the card of unification versus independence, the card of victimization complex, and the card of China’s threat: this time they all failed. In this year's elections, the voters changed the keynote of their perception to "caring for economics and people's livelihood."

Second, in the past, the electoral campaigns relied on political parties’ organizational mobilization; however, this time, this strategy has been vanquished by the Internet, live broadcasts, and laymen. The label of political parties has conversely become an unbearable burden for the candidates; this is the omen of the weakening of party politics. In other words, the clear-cut divisions and mutual confrontation with exclusiveness between the Blue and Green in Taiwan not only have failed to solve politico-economic problems, but have rather become barriers to political progress.

Third, the political participation of the younger generation has become more aggressive in the past four years. The younger and mid-aged generations’ demand calling for "Taiwan wants to advance ahead" has become all the more stronger. This is something to which the ruling and opposition parties must seriously respond. In the past two years, President Tsai, however, has endlessly expanded powers by herself, twisting the spirit of neutrality of the executive system, and refusing public discussions while directly changing the country’s policy directions in foreign affairs, cross-Strait affairs, economics, and energy sources. At the same time, she has continuously allowed the country’s resources to be used by the DPP. Such selfishness not only made Taiwan's democratic politics retrogress, but also led the country's development to lose direction. This is the principal reason that she lost the people's trust.

In short, the tsunami of vox populi that Tsai Ing-wen encountered this time means she was defeated by her own arrogance and prejudice.

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