Taiwan's Pro-China Party Claims Landslide Victory In Legislative Elections

January 12, 2008 11:26 a.m. EST

Taipei, Taiwan (AHN) - Taiwan's opposition Nationalist Party or Kuomintang won a landslide victory in legislative elections on Saturday. His victory boosted his chances of reclaiming the presidency in March and improving ties with China.

The opposition party, KMT, claimed victory in 81, which will lead the party to gain three-fourth majority with four pro-Nationalist independents, of the 113 seats, according to the party spokesman Su Jun-pin.

Before the elections, some political analysts had projected for the party to claim 75 seats.

The reports said that President Chen Shui-bian resigned from the Democratic Progressive Party as a chairman after he received the news that his party was close to losing the elections.

President Shui-bian was criticized for aggravating relations with China by endorsing policies to formalize Taiwan's de facto independence.

The president had lost popularity after he was accused of corruption charges by his family. He was also rebuked by the U.S. and China for his focus on the island's sovereignty.

According to Taiwan's Central Election Commission, the Nationalist party was leading with 51.2 percent of the total votes against 36.9 percent of the Democratic Progressive Party.

"We have given Chen a chance for eight years," Chang Yi-shue, 57, a community bus driver, told Bloomberg.

"What we want now is to improve the economy and have better relations with China. We want the status quo, but we want jobs and a better economy."

On March 22, presidential election will be between Frank Hsieh representing Democratic Progressive Party against the Nationalists' Ma Ying-jeou.

"We need to be cautious about the presidential poll, and hopefully we can win," Ma said while speaking at Nationalist headquarters in Taipei, according to The Associated Press.

"With a Nationalist presidency and Nationalist-controlled legislature, we can push forward the reform expected by the Taiwanese people."

After a surprising defeat, the president, who served two four-year terms, is expected to leave office in May.