Pro China Kuomintang takes 15 districts compared to DPP’s six

Electorate turns away from ruling Democratic Progressive Party

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing wen resigned as chairwoman of the ruling pro independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) after it suffered a major electoral defeat on Saturday, losing two of the island’s most important city posts in mayoral elections. Pro China Kuomintang takes 15 districts compared to DPP’s six.

The results of the polls, being held just over a year before Taiwan’s next presidential election, are likely to please China, which claims self ruled and proudly democratic Taiwan as its own and has ramped up pressure on Ms Tsai and her administration since she took office in 2016.

In the run up to the elections, Ms Tsai and her Government said repeatedly China was trying to sway voters with “political bullying” and “fake news” accusations that Beijing denied.

Canada Goose Jackets The DPP lost control of the mayoralties in Taiwan’s second most populous canada goose outlet city Taichung and the key battleground of Kaohsiung in the south, which it held for two decades and played a central role in Taiwan’s pro democracy movement canada goose outlet in canada in the 1970s. Canada Goose Jackets

Both were won by the China friendly https://www.goosecanada.ca opposition, the Kuomintang, which once ruled China before fleeing to Taiwan at the end of a civil war with the Communists in 1949.

Ms Tsai said the DPP would reflect on the defeat, but she vowed canada goose outlet england to press on.

cheap Canada Goose “Continuing reforms, freedom and democracy, and protecting the country’s sovereignty are the mission that the DPP won’t abandon,” she told reporters. cheap Canada Goose

Canada Goose Coats On Sale She said she would not accept the resignation of her premier William Lai, who had offered to quit earlier in the evening. Canada Goose Coats On Sale

The DPP held on in two of its other strongholds, however, keeping Tainan in the south and Taoyuan in the north.

‘A tragic defeat’The DPP has now been left in control of only six of Taiwan’s cities and counties, compared with at least 15 for the Kuomintang.

“This is a tragic defeat for the DPP,” Yao Chia wen, a senior adviser to the President, said.

“But this is not support for the Kuomintang from the people. This is the people’s disappointment in the DPP,” he said, citing slower than expected initiatives that have drawn criticism including pension and justice reforms.

uk canada goose outlet Votes were still canada goose outlet winnipeg being counted in Taiwan’s affluent capital Taipei, where the incumbent mayor Ko Wen je, an independent, is in a close race with the Kuomintang’s Ting Shou chung, and the DPP is running a distant third. uk canada goose outlet

Kaohsiung’s Kuomintang mayor elect, Han Kuo yu, who described the city as “outdated and poor” while on the campaign trail, told a rally he would go all out to boost its economy.

“We must immediately roll up our sleeves and get to work,” Mr Han said, speaking of what was once one of the world’s busiest ports but which has lost much of its business to China.

There was no immediate reaction canada goose outlet washington dc from canada goose outlet online reviews Beijing to the poll results, where state media simply noted Ms Tsai’s resignation as party chairwoman “to take responsibility for the party’s performance in Taiwan’s local elections”.

US congratulates Taiwan on ‘vibrant’ democracySupporters of pro China Kuomintang say the the DPP administration has failed to come good on promises to reduce the deficit and cut pollution. (AP)

Canada Goose Online A spokesperson for the US State Department canada goose outlet uk fake praised Taiwan for “demonstrating the strength of their vibrant democratic system through a successful round of elections”. Canada Goose Online

canada goose uk black friday Taiwan canada goose outlet in toronto television stations reported a high turnout, with some polling stations in parts of Taipei and Kaohsiung remaining open past the advertised closing time. canada goose uk black friday

Candidates fanned out across the island to shake hands and canvass votes, and held noisy, colourful rallies that have become the hallmarks of Taiwan’s vibrant democracy, in canada goose outlet uk sale marked contrast to China where the Communist Party tolerates no dissent to its rule.

uk canada goose Tensions across the Taiwan Strait have heightened, with China conducting military drills around the island and snatching away Taiwan’s dwindling number of diplomatic allies. uk canada goose

Canada Goose Outlet Ms Tsai’s domestic reform initiatives, from the island’s pension scheme to labour law, have also come under intense voter scrutiny recently. Canada Goose Outlet

Canada Goose sale Confidence in the Government has waned in recent months after reform moves upset both the opposition and some supporters, who said Ms Tsai had backed away from promises to reduce the deficit and cut pollution. Canada Goose sale

Populace says no to marriage equalityUnderscoring Ms Tsai’s challenge are a series of public votes also held on Saturday on whether to make same canada goose outlet store toronto sex marriage legal, an issue which has deeply divided Taiwan.

“This is a small step for myself, but a big step for mankind,” said Chi Chia wei, a veteran gay rights activist who had petitioned Taiwan’s Constitutional Court to take up the issue.

In Asia’s first such ruling, Taiwan’s Constitutional Court declared in May last year same sex couples had the right to legally marry, and set a two year deadline for legalisation.