The ruling party in China's Taiwan Province, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), was defeated by the Pan Blue Alliance led by the Chinese Kuomintang Party (KMT), in a local election on Saturday.
Among the total 23 seats of county-level mayors, the KMT won 14 seats, compared with the former eight seats, and the ruling DPP won six, down from 10, according to the results announced by the Taiwan authorities late Saturday.
The DPP President Su Tseng-chang announced to resign for the debacle in the election at about 8 PM, though the votes were reaffirmed by the authorities later.
The election began at 8:00 AM Saturday.
The KMT also won Taipei County, the largest county in the island with more than 3.4 million people and thus the focal grabbing point -- while its allies, the People First Party (PFP), the New Party and personages without party affiliations each won one.
"The election results indicate a vote of nonconfidence of the public in the Taiwan authorities led by the DPP," said Ma Ying-jeou, chairman of the KMT on Saturday evening. According to relevant statutes in Taiwan, the new mayors at county-level will be installed on Dec. 20.
Among the 901 seats of county councilors, the KMT won 408, the DPP 192, the PFP 31, the "Taiwan Solidarity Union" 11, the NP two, and personages without party affiliations 256.
Another seat will be decided through drawing lots due to two people getting the same votes, according to the authorities. Among the 319 positions of town level mayors, the KMT won 173, the DPP 35, the PFP three, the "Taiwan Solidarity Union" one and personages without party affiliations 107.
(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2005)
