The official’s candidate Democratic Progressive Party (PPD), William Lai, has won the presidential elections held this Saturday in Taiwan. Lai has highlighted that these results represent a success due to “resistance in the face of outside influence”, in reference to the pressures from china to achieve the victory of a like-minded candidate. They also assume that “Taiwan will continue on the side of democracy and not authoritarianism”, “walking with its democratic allies”, and that the country “will continue on the right path, without going backwards”.

“This is our insistence. “We do not give up,” Lai highlighted in his speech to his supporters, in which he thanked his two opponents for his democratic behavior after acknowledging his defeat. “I have received your congratulatory calls.” , he has highlighted.

Lai profiles like this president’s successor outgoing Tsai Ing Wen, also from the PDP, considered the formation furthest from Beijing’s positions. With this victory, the PPD achieves a third consecutive term four years at the head of the country, an unprecedented milestone in the history of Taiwan since the head of state began to be elected in direct elections in 1996.

The two main rivals of Lai have already recognized their victory, according to the Taiwanese press. The presidential candidate of the Nationalist Party of China, the Kuomintang, Hou Yu Ih, appeared before his supporters at the party headquarters and congratulated Lai on his victory. Hou has asked for forgiveness to his followers for not having been able to achieve victory and has called on the winner to “listen to the voice of the people.” Furthermore, he has asked the new PPD government to be “more transparent and effective” and guarantee Taiwan security.

Hou would be the second most voted with 33.27 percent, ahead of the candidate of the Taiwan People’s Party (PPT), Ko Wen Je, who would have achieved 26.01 percent support, according to data from the Central Election Commission. Ko has highlighted the “many miracles” achieved by the PPT thanks to “small donations” and has assured that the results achieved by his party – formed in 2019 – are positive for Taiwanese politics. “On the path to justice, on the path to achieving a sustainable nation, Ko Wen Je will not give up and I ask you please not to give up either,” he stated, according to the Focus Taiwan portal.

Loss of legislative majority

However, Lai’s victory has been slightly clouded because his party, the DPP, does not maintain control of the Legislative Yuan, or Taiwanese unicameral Parliament. “We haven’t worked hard enough. We must humbly review the situation. The election results tell us that people expect capable government and effective controls. We understand this message and respect it,” Lai declared in his speech.

Thus, it has committed to “study in depth the political opinions” of his two rivals and to “incorporate them as long as the need for national development is satisfied.” Lai has assured that he will make the appointments “based on capabilities”, without taking into account the acronyms of the party to which the possible candidates belong.

“We are going to prioritize issues in which everyone the parties share a consensus. If there is no consensus and there is no urgency, we will continue talking,” she stressed.

The PDP has been the most voted in the legislative elections, with 36.37 percent of votes. Behind would be the Kuomintang with 34.5 percent support. The PDP would have obtained 36 of the 73 seats that are decided by the most voted candidate system, while the Kuomintang would obtain another 36 representatives.

There are another six seats reserved for indigenous candidates and the 34 that are decided by proportional representation of party lists. Until now the PPD controlled 62 of the 113 seats that make up the Chamber.

The elections have taken place in an atmosphere of absolute tranquility but the Taiwan Police have confirmed 92 cases of rape of the electoral law, half of them for taking photos of a ballot or bringing a phone to the voting booth.