Number: RS22791
Title: Taiwan's Legislative Elections, January 2008: Implications for U.S. Policy
Authors: Kerry Dumbaugh, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division 
Abstract: On January 12, 2008, Taiwan's ruling party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), suffered a crushing defeat in elections for the Legislative Yuan, the national legislature. The DPP won only 27 seats in the new 113-member body, while the opposition Kuomintang Party (KMT) gained a hefty majority with 81 seats. Five additional seats went to independent and smaller party candidates who are expected to side often with KMT positions. The results appear to be a repudiation of DPP leader and Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's emphasis of a radical pro-independence agenda at the expense of domestic economic issues. Attention in Taiwan now is on the upcoming presidential contest on March 22, 2008, pitting the leading DPP candidate Frank Hsieh against the leading KMT candidate Ma Ying-jeou.
Pages: 4
Date: January 22, 2008