[20080410]RS22853_台湾2008年总统大选.pdf

1 Based on the authors conversations in Taiwan on March 23-24, 2008, with both KMT partyofficials and with foreign observers.2 DPP candidates received 37% of the votes in the 2008 legislative elections, which were heldunder new rules that favored the KMT. See CRS Report RS22791, Taiwans LegislativeElections, January 2008: Implications for U.S. Policy, by Kerry Dumbaugh.Order Code RS22853Updated April 10, 2008Taiwans 2008 Presidential ElectionKerry DumbaughSpecialist in Asian AffairsForeign Affairs, Defense, and Trade DivisionSummaryIn a large turnout on March 22, 2008, voters in Taiwan elected as president Mr. MaYing-jeou of the Nationalist (KMT) Party. Mr. Ma out-polled rival candidate FrankHsieh, of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), by a 2.2 millionvote margin of 58% to 42%. Coming on the heels of the KMTs sweeping victory inJanuarys legislative elections, the result appears to be a further repudiation of DPPleader and Taiwan President Chen Shui-bians eight-year record of governance.President-elect Ma, who will begin his tenure on May 20, 2008, has promised toimprove Taiwans economic performance, to improve Taiwans damaged relationswith the Peoples Republic