Lai Ching-ten, the candidate for Taiwan’s presidential election, was presented by China as “”. serious threat », almost according to the final official results, has won the vote; Hou Yu-ih, the candidate in favor of compromise with Beijing, has conceded defeat. In a press release, the European Union “ Congratulations to all the voters » participated in This democratic exercise ”
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The candidate of the main opposition party in Taiwan, the Kuomintang (KMT), which favors reconciliation with China, conceded defeat in the presidential election on Saturday, January 13 evening. ” I respect the final decision of the Taiwanese people “and” I congratulate Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim (Its running mate, Editor’s Note) As for his election, hopefully he will not disappoint the expectations of the Taiwanese people », declared Hou Yuh-ih to his supporters. During his maiden speech, President-elect Lai Ching-te praised “ A new chapter in our democracy “
40.2% of the vote
Outgoing Vice President Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was credited with 40.2% of the vote, according to almost final official results on Saturday evening. His main rival Hou Yu-ih, 66, a Kuomintang (KMT) candidate who advocates ties with Beijing, won 33.4% of the vote. A third candidate, Ko Wen-jae, 64, from the smaller Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) and who presents himself as anti-establishment, came third with 26.4%.
Taiwanese also voted to renew 113 seats in parliament. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), our correspondent in Taiwan, writes, Adrian SeymourOn the other hand, it loses its absolute majority. It will therefore be forced to deal with a third party, the People’s Party of former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je. The party has created surprises by campaigning on domestic issues like house prices, low wages, corruption cases, all issues that concern the younger generation. Its position on relations with China remains unclear.
Explosive topic
How Yu-ih said that he hoped that ” Regardless of the turmoil that marked the election process, everyone will be united after the vote to confront Taiwan’s future ” Throughout the week, Beijing has increased its diplomatic and military pressure. On Thursday, five Chinese balloons crossed the median line separating the autonomous island from China, according to Taiwan’s defense ministry, which also saw ten aircraft and six warships. On Saturday, AFP’s Journalists observed a Chinese fighter plane over Pingtan, Taiwan’s closest city, and on Chinese social network Weibo, the Hashtag “Taiwan Election” was blocked in the morning.
Taiwan’s status is one of the most explosive topics in the rivalry between China and the United States, the region’s primary military backer, and Washington “ Informal delegation On the island after the vote. A conflict in the Taiwan Strait could be devastating for the global economy: the island supplies 70% of the planet’s semiconductors and more than 50% of containers transported around the world pass through the strait.
Lai Ching-te, modest origin
Vice president for four years under Tsai Ing-wen, the 64-year-old miner’s son studied at Harvard in the United States and was the first doctor at a hospital in Tainan, southwest of the island. Of humble origin, unlike most of Taiwan’s political class, he was raised by his mother after his father died when he was a child. Described as spiteful and belligerent, Lai Ching-te – who also calls himself William Lai – decided to enter politics in 1996, after Beijing fired a missile test around Taiwan during its first democratic presidential election.
“ I decided it was my duty to participate in Taiwan’s democracy and help protect this new experiment from those who wish it harm. “, he testified to the Wall Street Journal last year. First deputy then mayor of Tainan, he then became prime minister in 2017 for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Beijing called him and his running mate Hsiao Bi-Khim, Taipei’s former representative in Washington, ” A dangerous pair of pro-liberties “
(with AFP)
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