Opposition takes Taipei, but fails in Kaohsiung

Dec 9, 2006, 13:16 GMT

Taipei - Taiwan's opposition managed to hold onto power in capital Taipei but failed in Kaohsiung during crucial mayoral elections, seen as a test of power for the opposition and ruling parties ahead of the 2008 presidential polls.

Hau Lung-bin, 54, a former environmental chief, of the main opposition Nationalist Party or Kuomintang (KMT), swept to a landslide victory, garnering more than 687,000 votes, or 54 per cent of popular vote, according to preliminary election results.

Frank Hsieh, former premier and Kaohsiung mayor, candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), bowed out in the race to collect some 521,000 votes, or 40 per cent.

Voter turnout in both Taipei and Kaohsiung was around 65 per cent, slightly smaller than the 70 per cent turnout rate in the mayoral races four years ago, according to the Central Election Commission.

A jubilant Hau accepted congratulation from supporters and well- wishers in a rally in Taipei

'The victory today is the victory of Taipei citizens,' said Hau as he was hailed by thousands of supporters in the rally.

'I will do all I can to honour my campaign promises to make Taipei a better place to live and work,' he said.

But in Taiwan's second-largest city, the southern port of Kaohsiung, the KMT candidate, scholar-turned politician Huang Chun- yin, was beaten by his DPP rival, former labour chief Chen Chu, in a close race. Chen gained 379,417 votes, a mere 1,120 ahead of Huang, according to preliminary results.

'Thank you, thank you.... I will do my best to further develop Kaohsiung,' said Ms Chen, a former political prisoner.

Analysts said if the KMT would be able to win in Kaohsiung, a traditional stronghold of the DPP, it would allow the opposition to extend its influence to southern Taiwan, which will greatly help it in the presidential elections in 2008.

'Now both parties have hold onto power in their respective cities. It also means voters in the south still choose to support the ruling party despite corruption allegations linked to the president and his family,' said Chang Ling-cheng, political science professor of National Taiwan University.

The DPP, whose popularity has plunged to a low of 18 per cent after President Chen Shui-bian was implicated in a string of corruption scandals since this year, had been fighting a difficult battle to try to keep the mayoral post in Kaohsiung.

Five candidates were fighting for the mayor office's in Kaohsiung, while six were competing in Taipei, Taiwan's capital.

Earlier, President Chen Shui-bian called the election process another proof of Taiwan's democracy.

'You have seem the noise and chaos in Taiwan streets these days. This is a proof of our democracy and proves our election is peaceful, rational and orderly,' he told foreign delegates at a meeting of the Democracy Pacific Union (DPU) in Taipei.

The DPU is a new international organization initiated by Taiwan to promote the value of democracy in Pacific-rim nations.

However, Saturday's election was marred by allegations in Kaohsiung with the KMT candidate being accused by his DPP opponent of vote buying.

Huang later filed a libel suit against Chu, saying she had attempted to use the allegation to smear him and reduce his chances in the race.

KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou also said it was irresponsible for Chen to comment on the alleged case on the day of elections, which he said served only to sway voter support for the DPP candidate.

The KMT supports Taiwan's eventual unification with China, while the DPP is seen as leaning toward Taiwan independence.