Comedian Turns into President: Anti-elitist Trend’s Warning Signal

 Comedian Turns into President: Anti-elitist Trend’s Warning Signal

China Times Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan)

April 28, 2019
 Translation of an Excerpt

Ukrainian comedian Zelensky, with 70% of the vote, crushed the incumbent President Poroshenko in the run-off, overwhelmingly being elected president of Ukraine as a political layman. His election is another victory of anti-establishment-elitism in the world; going to the bottom of things, it is the result of people's anxious pursuit for improving their livelihood, thus wanting to turn over politicians. The anti-establishment tide has been hitting with great force traditional party politics; political figures must not believe that elitist operations can bind the hands of voters in voting. Whether a candidate can deliver a record of governance to bolster people's livelihood is the crux to victory.

Taiwan’s situation is quite similar; since the beginning of democratization, the political picture has been mired in the fight between Blue and Green, now entering into the third turn-over of ruling parties. However, with the changes, the country has not become better; rather it has succumbed to vicious fighting between the Blue and Green. Political figures and political parties are only interested in defeating their opponents, not placing as top priority caring for the rice bowl of the masses. They seem to believe that there are only two apples to choose in the voters' basket, and that they can win only by beating the opponent.

The anti-establishment phenomenon reminds political figures that they must pull their attention back from competition with the opponent to the people, earnestly striving for a better life for the greatest majority of the public, letting the masses lead a stable and decent life, and enabling the younger generation to start a family and raise children. The realistic environment Taiwan now faces is different from the past; the Mainland's policies toward Taiwan have been constricting, and the US-China confrontation even more constricts Taiwan's cross-Strait policies, exacerbating the difficulties in cross-Strait relations. Trade is now facing protectionism and more fierce competition; our inability to accede to multilateral free-trade organizations exacerbates the already severe situation. All these factors have created difficulties in economic growth.

These issues directly concern the rice bowls of Taiwan’s masses and the country’s future development. If political figures who aim at the highest office of the land did not work hard to look for an outlet for the people, but were obsessed all the time with only vicious political fighting, then the distance would be very short to being jettisoned by the electorate.

Attachment : none