Home

Candidates Fail to Lure Voters in Taiwan

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - A large number of people in Taiwan have not made up their minds about who they will support in next year¡¯s presidential election, according to a poll by China Times. 41 per cent of respondents are undecided, up one point since June.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - A large number of people in Taiwan have not made up their minds about who they will support in next year¡¯s presidential election, according to a poll by China Times. 41 per cent of respondents are undecided, up one point since June.

Ma Ying-jeou of the opposition Kuomintang Nationalist Party (KMT) is favoured by 37 per cent of respondents¡ªdown three points in five months¡ªwhile 22 per cent would support Frank Hsieh of the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Taiwan was formed in 1949 after the government of Chiang Kai-shek was forced out of China as Mao Zedong¡¯s communists were gaining prominence. A series of democratic reforms implemented by Taiwanese president Lee Teng-hui in the early 1990s allowed Taiwan¡¯s residents to take part in free and fair elections. To this date, Mainland China considers Taiwan a "renegade province" and reserves the right to bring it under control.

DPP member Chen Shui-bian was first elected president in 2000. In March 2004, he earned a second term in an election marred by controversy after an apparent assassination attempt.

Rising inflation has prompted a series of street protests against the government this month. On Nov. 17, Taiwanese president Chen snapped at farmers complaining about high food prices and told them they should move to Mainland China if they are so dissatisfied with Taiwan¡¯s economy, adding, "You could swim over there, and don¡¯t come back after you do."

On that same say, KMT lawmaker Wang Jin-pyng criticized the government¡¯s economic policies, saying, "Our rulers should have more empathy toward the poor."

Taiwan¡¯s presidential election is tentatively scheduled for Mar. 22, 2008. A legislative election will take place on Jan. 12.

Polling Data

Which of these candidates would you vote for in the next presidential election?

Source: China Times