The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Taipei celebrated its victory in the presidential election, giving Vice President William Lai and his party the mandate to lead Taiwan for the next four years.
The party’s ticket, led by Lai and former US representative Hsiao Bi-khim, led from the initial tallies in the afternoon to the evening. The final count in the presidential race had the Lai-Hsiao ticket at 5,586,019 votes, or 40.5% of the total.
The final count also showed the Chinese Nationalist Party’s ticket of New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi and Jaw Shaw-kong at 4,671,021 (33.49%) and the Taiwan People’s Party’s ticket of party chairman Ko Wen-je and Legislator Cynthia Wu at 3,690,466 (26.46%).
However, the DPP lost some key contests in the legislative elections, resulting in the DPP not getting a majority in the legislature. DPP representatives at the party’s main rally emphasized the campaign slogans campaigned by Lai and Hsiao.
Taiwanese President Tsai Lai has won a third consecutive term as president, marking a historic achievement in Taiwanese democratic history. The victory is seen as a victory for democracy, as the DPP will remain in office after Tsai’s two consecutive terms began in 2016.
Lai, a former medical doctor with a master’s degree in public health from Harvard University and practiced medicine in Tainan, is the first time Taiwan has a former medical doctor as its leader.
Taipei resident Chuang expressed relief at the victory, stating that Taiwan still has democracy and freedom. He emphasized that the election sends a message to the KMT and China that Taiwan is a sovereign country and that Taiwanese do not want to be ruled by communist China.
At a DPP international news conference, Lai stated that his election had three important meanings: first, Taiwan has told the world that in the choice between democracy and autocracy, Taiwanese have chosen democracy.
Taiwan has successfully defended its democratic system against external influences, ensuring the right to vote and choose its own president. The DPP Lai-Hsiao ticket received the most votes among the three political parties in the presidential race. Taiwanese believe the country is on the right path and will not return to authoritarianism.
President Lai pledges to maintain peace and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait, seek dialogue with China, and uphold the Republic of China constitutional framework for the well-being of people on both sides of the Strait.
