Kuomintang suffers another election defeat, Ma Ying-jeou apologises
It is the KMT's second major defeat of the year, following a setback in January's by-elections, when it won 47.8 per cent of the vote (eight seats) against the DPP’45.3 per cent (four seats), but which, according to Taichung Mayor Hu Chih-chiang, ushers in radical changes to the island’s politics.
“The loss in three counties indicates our efforts were not enough. We apologise to our supporters,” Ma said. It also indicates that the KMT will be hard pressed to win in municipal elections set for the end of the year or presidential elections scheduled in 2012. Despite recent scandals under pro-independence former president Chen Shui-bian, the DPP is gaining ground.
The United Daily News said the latest in a string of setbacks reflected public disappointment with Ma, who pledged to boost trade links with the mainland and allow more of its tourists into Taiwan.
The KMT’s defeat is also due to some disgruntled Kuomintang politicians who quit to run as independents after failing to win the party's nomination, a split that benefited DPP candidates.
Ma's popularity plunged shortly after his government was criticised for its tardy response to Typhoon Morakot in August 2009, which killed 500 people, causing TWD 100 billion (US$ 3.1 billion) in damages to agriculture, trade and buildings.
For analysts, the main obstacle remains mainland, China, which Taiwanese still reject.
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