Taiwan Welcomes First Woman to Be Elected President · Global Voices
Taiwan's President-Elect <PERSON> speaking to foreign and domestic media at her campaign headquarters after her opponents conceded defeat. Photo from <PERSON>'s Facebook page.
Taiwan has elected its first female president, <PERSON>, an opposition candidate from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). <PERSON> won 56.12 percent of the popular vote (6,897,744 ballots), soundly defeating <PERSON> from the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), who won 31 percent of the vote, and <PERSON> of the People’s First Party (PFP), who won 13 percent.
<PERSON>, popularly known as “Little <PERSON>” and “<PERSON>,” also led her party to a majority in the legislature, taking 68 of the 113 seats up for grabs, handing the president-elect a considerable mandate for the next four years. 871
<PERSON> is expected to focus on improving social security in a struggling economy that's facing rising unemployment, low salaries, and a rising cost of living.
Facebook user <PERSON> summarized what many were feeling, following the election:
關於選舉的幾點感想：
1、政黨輪替是民主政治的常態，其目的不是在選出一個最好最「英明」的領導人，而是在告訴執政者：你做不好的話，就會被換掉。
2、這是我國立法院史上第一次的政黨輪替，先前泛藍席次從來沒有低於五成過。從來沒有。
民進黨第一次完全執政，人民將權力託付給民進黨，接下來四年希望每位政治人物都不要忘記、不要辜負這個託付。人們會繼續大力監督的（大家平常要多關心政治呀！生活處處皆政治）
台灣現在面對的內、外挑戰都相當大，必須認真地面對。
馬英九政府的失敗主因就是不願意傾聽人民的聲音，民進黨必須記取教訓。
3、綠黨與社會民主黨還是無法通過門檻，實在可惜。
台灣需要真正意義的左派力量來制衡兩大黨都偏向右派的政策取向。
These are my election views:
1. Party alternation is a normal occurrence in a democratic political system, and the goal of elections is not to choose the wisest leader, but to tell the ruling party: “If you don’t perform well, you can be voted out.”
2. This is the first time party alternation has happened in my country’s legislature. 368