Taiwan: Ruling party wins elections for the National Assembly
Taipei (AsiaNews/Agenzie) The Democratic Progressive Party (PDP) in power in Taiwan since 2000, has won elections for the National Assembly, the organ which will have the task of ratifying constitutional changes approved by Parliament last year. The President of the PDP, Chen Shui-bian, got 42.5% of votes cast, the equivalent of 128 out of 300 available seats. Right after came the Kuomitang (Nationalist Party), the main opposition group, which garnered 38.9% of votes (117 seats), and lagging behind was the Union of Solidarity of Taiwan, allied to the PDP, which got 7% (equal to 21 seats), while the First Party of the People, the second opposition party, got 6.1% (18 seats).
Voters chose 300 delegates who will have to approve a reform plan for a new electoral system and to allow Parliament to call a referendum, a prerogative which at the moment the constitution reserves for the President alone.
Today's popular consultation, in which 16.7 million Taiwanese were called to vote, passed without incident, but it was marked by a low turnout of less than 40%.
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09/11/2004
