KMT Wins Landslide Victory in Legislative Elections

News Analysis

KMT Wins Landslide Victory in Legislative Elections

Sources: Taipei newspapers

January 14, 2008

The KMT sealed a landslide victory in last Saturday’s legislative elections, securing two thirds of the total seats up for grabs (81 out of 113). The DPP, which was previously the largest party in the Legislature, suffered its heaviest election blow ever, securing only 27 seats in the race. President Chen Shui-bian assumed full responsibility for the heavy defeat by announcing his resignation as DPP Chairman. The legislative elections were marked by the introduction of the “single-seat constituency, two ballots” voting system for the first time in the country’s election history.

Only 5 out of the 113 seats in the seventh Legislature went to smaller parties. The Non-Partisan Solidarity Union took three, the People First Party one, and one independent candidate was elected. None of the other smaller parties received any seats. While the New Party and the Taiwan Solidarity Union secured 3.95% and 3.52% of political party votes, respectively, neither met the 5% threshold and therefore both failed to gain any at-large seat. The outcome ushers in a new era of two-party politics for Taiwan.

The ruling DPP secured 38.17% of the votes, securing 13 seats in 73 election districts. In places south of Yunlin, the DPP swept all 5 seats in Tainan City and Tainan County, and retained 4 seats in Kaohsiung County, Pingtung County, and Chiayi County. Yet the DPP managed to secure only 2 seats in places north of Yunlin (both in Taipei County), and had to settle for 2 seats in Kaohsiung City, a place traditionally packed with Green supporters, as opposed to the KMT’s 3 seats. Many believe the outcome will have a decisive impact on DPP Presidential candidate Frank Hsieh’s prospects.

KMT, the second largest political force in the fifth and sixth Legislatures, sealed a landslide victory in last Saturday’s legislative elections that saw it secure an absolute majority in the seventh Legislature. 61 out of the KMT’s 81 seats derive from a 53.5% share of district and indigenous candidate votes. In addition to retaining voter support in the north, the KMT sealed a glorious victory in central Taiwan and literally completed a mission impossible by bagging 10 seats in Yunlin and south. Despite suffering a slight defeat in Tainan City and Tainan County, which happens to be Chen’s birthplace, the KMT could count itself successful in breaking the pan-Green monopoly in the south, splitting the spoils with the DPP in Kaohsiung City, Kaohsiung County, and Pingtung County.

On the other hand, voter turnout for the national plebiscites on the subject of “party assets” and “anti-corruption” was 26.34% and 26.08%, respectively. Both plebiscites were nullified since neither passed the 50% ballot threshold. The outcome implies substantial voter support for the KMT and the New Party’s “Say No to Plebiscites” appeal.

According to the Central Election Commission, Taiwan has 17,277,720 eligible plebiscite voters. A minimum 50% voter turnout (8,638,861 voters) is required for the plebiscites to become valid. A minimum 50% yes vote among those casting ballots is required for the plebiscites to become legally binding.

According to the Central Election Commission, voter turnout for the “party asset” plebiscite was 26.34%, or 4,550,881 voters casting ballots. Of those voters, 91.46% favored the initiative, with the rest either rejecting the proposal or casting invalid ballots. Voter turnout for the “anti-corruption” plebiscite was 26.08%, with a total of 4,505,927 people casting ballots. Of those voters, 58.17% favored the initiative and 41.83% rejected the proposal, with more than 10% casting invalid ballots.

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