By Emma Emeozor
19.54 million Taiwanese will go to the poll tomorrow to elect a new president in a three-way race.
Three parties: the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) are in the race. To be eligible to vote for president, the election laws say a voter must have at some point lived in Taiwan for no less than six consecutive months.
The population of the East Asia Island is 23 million and it operates a democratic system of government. It first held presidential election on 23 March 1996. The president serves for a maximum of two consecutive four-year terms.
KMT is the main opposition challenging the DPP. But analysts believe that the DPP’s William Lai, 64, will win the election. He is the incumbent Vice President. Hou Yu-ih, 66, the mayor of New Taipei City and candidate of KMT is the strongest challenger while TPP’s Ko Wen-Je, 64, is considered as an outsider who has just entered the political arena. Until the emergence of Ko, two-party system had been the practice. Analysts say the collapse of KMT and TPP alliance and their failure to present one presidential candidate favours DPP to win the lection.
The outgoing president, Tsai Ing-wen has been in power since January 16, 2016. She is the seventh president and first female leader of the Island. The election comes on the heels of escalated tension between the Island and China that is insisting that Taiwan is its territory and therefore not an independent country, a claim the DPP government has rejected severally.
Campaigns leading to tomorrow’s election have been tense with promises as each of the parties’ scramble for majority support from an electorate that is struggling to decide which camp to pitch tent. Currently, the Island is faced with socio-economic and political challenges exacerbated by threats from China.
Interestingly, the people seem divided on unification with China. While some are in support of the Islands independence and therefore reject the 1992 Consensus between Taiwan and China that recognised ‘One China policy;’ others neither support unification nor endorse independence.
While DPP is unrepentant in its effort to actualise Taiwan’s independence, the candidate of KMT says though he does not support unification with China, it will seek closer ties with Beijing. TPP candidate also expressed the same position with KMT but amended it by saying he will use Taiwan to serve as a peaceful bridge between China and the United States.
Taiwan has been a thorn in U.S. and China ties. Beijing has repeatedly accused Washington as the brain behind Taiwan’s quest for Independence. The two countries have been cautiously watching the campaigns and are anxious to see the outcome of tomorrow’s election.
On internal matters, analysts say “the position of the candidates on most issues are fairly similar, except the issue of energy where DPP is rooting for a nuclear-free homeland and net zero emissions by 2050.” High cost of living, inflation, low wages, transportation, education and social care system are among the burning issues.
Taiwanese, particularly the young generation is clamoring for improved condition of living and availability of public facilities especially in the transport and education sectors. On the other hand, the elderly are seeking more support in social care system that will afford them better living environment.
Outgoing President Tsai has acknowledged the worry of the electorate but blamed the state of the economy on global economic downturns and the negative impact of COVID-19. She has assured the electorate that her Vice President, Lai, will be a better driver of the economy than the other candidates.
Analysts say majority of Taiwanese are satisfied with the performance of Tsai, especially in her handling of the COVID-19 crisis, U.S-China relations and foreign relations. They say Lai is riding on the back of Tsai to win the election. He has in his manifesto entitled “National Project of Hope” promised to continue from where his predecessor stopped. On the other hand, Hou has promised to implement reforms in several areas.