This has been one feverish week as it was election week. Candidates have tried to solidify supporters along with reaching out to the undecided before the public vote will take place on Saturday.
The smell of firecrackers and beats of loud drums flood neighborhoods as the candidates wanting to cover as much ground in possible in the final days pass by on their jeeps waving and smiling to potential voters. These candidates are fighting for their political survival in a legislature that has been dramatically scaled down.
With the reforms in parliament that took place in 2005, the seats have been reduced from 225 to 113. Presidential elections are also due ten weeks later in March.
“It’s like you are running for a 100m race,” according to Diane Lee, a candidate with the Kuomintang (KMT), the opposition party in Taiwan. Lee aims for her fourth term in office.
She adds: “We are running the first part, and the [candidate for] president is running the second part. If we win a lot, the next half will be easier, so we are trying our best.”
Many predict that the KMT will strengthen its position. It is predicted that the KMT will win parliamentary elections due to a bandwagon effect.
“How much of a jump on the bandwagon there is remains to be seen, but I don’t think in general people have been happy with what a divide government has brought Taiwan,” according to Professor Raymond Wu of the Fu Jen Catholic University.
However, others believe that there could be a pendulum effect.
So far, outgoing President Chen Shui-bian of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has seen many vital bills stalled with the parliament that has been controlled by the KMT.
There also been corruption surrounding his family and administration.
According to a straw poll taken in Taipei, over three-fourths have said they will not vote.
“It’s boring. I don’t care about the elections. It’s too complex for me. I think the politicians are all trash. I don’t trust them,” said Lee Shun-ho.
“I’m not interested and judging the two main parties I’m not satisfied with either,” according to Veronica Wang.
She adds: “Taiwan can stand on the international stage because our economic power is very strong, but if we don’t continue to move ahead, we have nothing.”