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Taiwan's opposition wins big
The Nationalists' victory in legislative elections is seen=20
as a vote of no confidence in Chen's leadership and=20
a preview of the March balloting to choose his successor.
By Mark Magnier and Tsai Ting-I
Special to The Times

January 13, 2008

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-taiwan13jan13,1,630=
3278.story?coll=3Dla-news-a_section

TAIPEI, TAIWAN =E2=80=94 The opposition Nationalist Party won an overwhelmi=
ng
victory Saturday in closely watched Taiwanese legislative elections
widely seen as a preview of March's presidential contest.

The results were viewed as a vote of no confidence in the
administration of President Chen Shui-bian, who has alienated many
voters with his contentious style and policy reversals during a
period of disappointing economic growth and increased tensions with
Beijing.

The Chinese government did not issue a reaction, but it almost
certainly is pleased with the results. It deeply dislikes Chen, and
the Nationalist Party has called for closer economic and political
ties with the mainland. China and Taiwan have been adversaries since
a civil war led to political separation in 1949.

The Nationalists, led by former Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou, secured=20
81 of the 113 seats up for grabs. The ruling Democratic Progressive
Party, or DPP, won 27 seats, and the other five went to
pro-Nationalist independents or minority parties.

Shortly after the final results were released late Saturday, Chen
resigned as head of his party, but the move is not expected to affect
his remaining two months as president.

"This is the worst and most disastrous defeat since the DPP was
founded," Chen said at a news conference. "I would like to take full
responsibility."

In a strangely timed move, China announced Saturday that it had
selected 13 representatives for Taiwan "via a secret ballot" in its
National People's Congress, which meets once a year, according to the
state-run New China News Agency. These would replace China's earlier
Taiwan delegates in the rubber-stamp body. China considers Taiwan
part of its territory and has vowed to take it by force if necessary
in the event it declares independence.

The Nationalist landslide probably will initiate a scramble within
the ruling party to recast its message and distance itself from Chen
in the remaining eight weeks until the island-wide presidential
contest. Saturday's 59% voter turnout was relatively low for Taiwan.

"The result is a huge setback" for the ruling DPP, said Shelley
Rigger, a professor at Davidson College in North Carolina. "While
they knew it was a tough race, they never expected to do this
poorly."

Recent elections on the island have focused on "love and bread," with
the DPP concentrating on issues of Taiwanese identity and
independence and the Nationalists keen to run on bread-and-butter
economic issues.

In recent weeks, however, the two presidential candidates have
gravitated toward the middle, analysts said, with Ma trying to
burnish his Taiwanese-identity credentials and the DPP's Frank Hsieh
adopting a softer line than Chen on cross-strait issues.

"Both sides want to come closer to the center," said Philip Yang, a
professor with National Taiwan University in Taipei.

Saturday's elections were the first under a reformed electoral system
designed to streamline Taiwan's inefficient and highly contentious
parliament. By halving the number of seats, reformers are hoping to
limit the role of minority parties, make representatives more
accountable and shift the focus more to issues than infighting.

If the Nationalists can follow Saturday's win with a presidential
victory on March 22, the stage could be set for more stable and
consistent policies and leadership, something Taiwan has not seen for
years. This in turn could lead to better relations and more economic
ties with mainland China.

"If both branches end up being controlled by one party, you won't see
so many fistfights," said Lo Chih-cheng, head of the Institute for
National Policy Research in Taipei.

Analysts say, however, that it is too early to write off the DPP,
known for its well-organized, creative electioneering.

Taiwan is renowned for its colorful elections, and this one didn't
disappoint.

Chen, who campaigned hard for his party, told opponents they should
swim to China if they felt so strongly about cozying up to the
mainland. He also said the Nationalists were "cranky as a woman" for
opposing one of his proposals. And a Nationalist legislator shaved
her head to show she had nothing to hide after being accused of
buying votes.

mark.magnier at latimes.com

Times staff writer Magnier reported from Beijing and special
correspondent Tsai from Taipei.



























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