TAIPEI, Jan 16 – Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan’s main opposition party, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), will become the island’s first female president after the ruling Kuomintang conceded defeat in polls today, as voters turned their backs on closer China ties.
“I’m sorry, we’ve lost. The KMT has suffered an election defeat. We haven’t worked hard enough and we failed voters’ expectations,” said KMT candidate Eric Chu who also addressing the tearful of the crowds at the party’s headquarters in Taipei here on Saturday.
The vote count is continuing but live television figures from polling stations show Tsai has secured a historic landslide victory, with around 60 percent against 30 percent for Chu. Chu bowed deeply to distraught supporters in a sign of apology and declared his resignation as chairman of the party.
“We want to congratulate to the DPP’s victory, this is the Taiwan people’s mandate. Taiwan’s people are the biggest winner. In the meantime, the KMT had lost its parliamentary majority, the first time it has ever lost control of the island’s legislature,” he said.
Support for Tsai has surged as voters have become increasingly uneasy about a recent rapprochement with China under KMT president Ma Ying-jeou, who must step down after a maximum two terms. As the economy stagnates, many are frustrated that trade pacts signed with the mainland have failed to benefit ordinary Taiwanese.
