Taiwan: voting centers open for presidential and legislative elections

The voting centers of Taiwan opened their doors this Saturday at 8:00 am (00:00 GMT) to hold the presidential and legislative elections, in a context marked by the short distance between the presidential candidates and tensions with China.

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More of 19.5 million people over 20 years old They are called to the polls to participate in a vote that will last until 4:00 pm (08:00 GMT), when schools will close and the recount will begin, the results of which should be known this evening.

In these elections, the Taiwanese will elect president for the eighth time since the completion of the democratic transition in 1996, and will have three options: the vice president of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (PDP), William Lai (Lai Ching-te); the Kuomintang (KMT) candidate, Hou Yu-ih, and the “outsider” from the Taiwan People’s Party (PPT), Ko Wen-je.

According to polls published up to January 2, Lai is the favorite with around 35% support, followed by Hou, with 28%, and Ko, with another 24%.

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The small margin between the candidates, added to the significant number of undecided candidates (12%), increases the uncertainty surrounding the elections conditioned by political relations. Taiwan with mainland China.

The PDP candidate presented these elections as a fight between “democracy” and “autocracy”, while the KMT candidate reiterated that only a victory for the opposition, more inclined to dialogue with Beijing, could avoid a “war” with China.

Beijing, which considers the autonomously governed island since 1949 to be a rebel province, has harshly criticized the PDP candidate in recent weeks, accusing him of being a “separatist” and “lacking moral integrity”.

During this day, Taiwanese will also vote on the renewal of the 113 seats that make up the Legislative Yuan (Parliament), where the ruling PDP currently holds a majority of 63 legislators.

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.