As millions of Taiwanese headed for the polling stations across the nation last weekend, there was a general sense that change was at hand. As the results of the vote started trickling in during the evening, it soon became clear that the political scene in Taiwan was about to become a much different place. It was a rout. When it was all over and done, the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) had merely won six of the 22 constituencies in the mayoral and commissioner elections, while the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won 13, and did so with sizable leads. Moreover, the KMT had lost control of Taipei, the capital city it had run for 16 consecutive years, to an independent with no political experience, and also saw safe cities in the northern half of the island, such as Hsinchu and Taoyuan, slip through its fingers.
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Taiwan's ruling party routed in local elections in "black Saturday."
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They lost control of Taipei for first time in 16 years
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Lazy campaigns and the "China factor" caused their defeat, says Cole
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"Sunflower generation" wary of closer ties with China
Democratic Progressive Party
DPP
Overall, the @placeholder garnered 5.83 million votes, or 47.6%, against the KMT's 4.99 million (40.7%).
Kuomintang
KMT
KMT
Overall, the DPP garnered 5.83 million votes, or 47.6%, against the @placeholder's 4.99 million (40.7%).
Taipei
Taipei
In many constituencies, including @placeholder, the KMT ran lazy campaigns and spent more time attacking its opponents than trying to convince voters of the virtues of its own candidates.
Taiwanese
Taiwan
Taiwan
Furthermore, the benefits of increasing trade with China tended to fall in the lap of magnates who were close to the administration, while for the majority of @placeholder -- especially youth -- the prospects for their future seemed grim.
Sunflower
In March, scores of protesters stormed a key government building to urge the government to scrap a controversial trade deal with China in what was dubbed the @placeholder.