Elections in Taiwan were this past Saturday, with the major cities mayoral candidates squaring off. The results were largely no change. the KMT retained control of Taipei, Xinbei, and Taichung. The DPP retained its hold on Tainan and Kaohsiung. Overall, the DPP seems to have made a marginal gain in terms of total vote count. The DPP's strategy this election cycle was to target younger voters. It does not appear that this was particularly successful.
My experience in Taipei City last year was that the younger people (particularly fresh graduates) were frustrated by the government's 22,000NT wage subsidy scheme that drove down monthly salaries. This program was slated to be phased out at the end of 2010. I suspect (based on anecdotal evidence) that the booming economy absorbed many of these recent graduates into regular positions, however at the lower starting wage.
Most unfortunate was the news about the shooting of 連勝文 and another man during a political rally. I still remember the first time I went to Taiwan. Before leaving some of my well- travelled friends warned me to avoid the Taiwan political scene as Taiwanese people, 'like to shoot at each other before elections.' Really unfortunate for the two young men who were the recipients of this violence.
Link to the article: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2010/11/28/2003489614
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