TAIWAN-ELECTION/RESULTS Pro-independence candidate claims victory in Taipei mayor race

Record ID: 862073

  • Title: TAIWAN-ELECTION/RESULTS Pro-independence candidate claims victory in Taipei mayor race
  • Date: 29th November 2014
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) KO SUPPORTER, CHIU HSIEN-MING, SAYING: "I think my choice is right. This is the first time I have selected the Taipei City mayor. I think he can make changes to make Taipei better. So this is my first time selecting the Taipei City Mayor and I am very happy that he won the election." SUPPORTERS HOLDING BANNER READING (Mandarin): "ONE CITY, ONE FAMILY AND SEVEN UP" (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) 25-YEAR-OLD KO SUPPORTER, CHEN KAI-JUN, SAYING: "I think yes, we are supposed to be trying our best. An election is a process, but we should begin to work together starting tomorrow to see what Taipei would be like four years later."
  • Embargoed: 14th December 2014 12:00
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  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA8TWOUYO7CJ3YWITAUVCS5TX2G
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  • Story Text: Ko Wen-je, an independent candidate backed by Taiwan's opposition, pro-independence party, delivered a set back for the country's ruling Kuomintang (KMT) ahead of a presidential election in less than two years, after claiming victory on Saturday (November 29), in local elections as the next mayor of Taipei.
    Ko defeated KMT candidate Sean Lien, the son of a wealthy, politically-connected family.
    "At this point, it's the end of the election but the start of taking responsibility for Ko Wen-je. I will be more cautious, modest and will be fighting bitterly to realise the campaign promises under the supervision of civilians," Ko said.
    The race for the mayor's job had been widely interpreted as a test of confidence in the China-friendly government of Taiwan President Ma Ying-Jeou.
    Confidence in the ruling party has been worn away this year by anti-China protests, a food safety scare, missteps in education reform and worries over class and income inequality.
    "I think my choice is right. This is the first time I have selected the Taipei City mayor. I think he can make changes to make Taipei better. So this is my first time selecting the Taipei City Mayor and I am very happy that he won the election," Chiu Hsien-ming, a supporter of Ko said.
    Another support said he hoped the decision means a better future for Taipei.
    "I think yes, we are supposed to be trying our best. An election is a process, but we should begin to work together starting tomorrow to see what Taipei would be like four years later," said Chen Kai-jun.
    Every Taiwan President has been a former mayor of Taipei after the island introduced direct presidential elections in 1996.
    Taiwan citizens went to the polls to elect mayors and councillors for a record 11,130 seats across the island.
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