Twin poll blows for Taiwan’s KMT spark doubts about leadership ahead of wider votes

Defeats in Taichung by-election and Taipei recall vote threaten opposition party’s chances in November and spark strong criticism of leader Eric Chu

KMT leadership seen to have erred in political judgment and electoral strategies, compared to all-out approach of the ruling DPP

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Kuomintang supporters at a rally in Taipei. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 6:01pm, 10 Jan 2022Updated: 9:28pm, 10 Jan 2022

Defeats at two key polls have dealt a blow to Taiwan’s main opposition party, threatening its chances in local government elections later this year.

The Kuomintang’s by-election and recall vote losses on Sunday also seriously dented the popularity of its recently re-elected chairman Eric Chu Li-luan, with party members questioning his ability to lead.

In the legislative by-election in the central city of Taichung, the KMT’s Yen Kuan-heng lost to his ruling Democratic Progressive Party rival despite the long-standing influence of his family in the constituency.

Lin Ching-yi, a former DPP legislator-at-large, won nearly 51.5 per cent of the votes cast, against about 47 per cent for Yen.

Lin Ching-yi (second left) with supporters including President Tsai Ing-wen in Taichung. Photo: Facebook

The KMT also failed to win enough votes in the recall poll it initiated to oust independent legislator Freddy Lim in Taipei’s fifth electoral district.

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