Explainer | What will Taiwan’s local elections mean for Tsai Ing-wen’s party and rival KMT?

Voters to head to the polls in what is seen as a referendum on Taiwanese president’s policies and the independence-leaning DPP

Outcomes will offer clues about potential 2024 presidential candidates

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Supporters of Taiwan’s KMT opposition party attend a rally in Taoyuan on November 19. Photo: Reuters

Published: 4:00pm, 25 Nov 2022Updated: 4:30pm, 25 Nov 2022

Taiwan will hold local government elections this weekend in what is seen as a referendum on the policies of the island’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, and her independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party.

In addition to choosing future political rising stars, voters will decide which political parties will control local governments. But more importantly, the outcome will offer clues about who will represent their parties in Taiwan’s presidential election in early 2024.

Why are they voting?

Voters will cast ballots to fill nine local offices in what has been dubbed the “nine-in-one” elections.

They will select mayors and county magistrates in nearly all 22 cities and counties in Taiwan on Saturday. However, the election in Chiayi in the southwest will be postponed until December 18 because of the death of a mayoral candidate.

Voters will also elect city and county councillors, borough and neighbourhood chiefs and other local officials.

An estimated 19.3 million electors are eligible to cast ballots, and preliminary results should be available by Saturday evening.

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