The crushing defeat the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) received in Saturday’s nine-in-one elections proved that public is not buying into the empty promises of reforms by President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration and has chosen to embrace change, civic groups said.
Humanist Education Foundation executive director Joanna Feng (馮喬蘭) said the election results symbolized a new force emerging in the nation.
“The different environments in which younger people have grown up inspire them to ask society to make changes for the improvement of their future,” Feng said.
The wish to rid society of ancient historic baggage and stop collusion between businesses and the government is not particular to younger people, and instead constitutes a social consensus, Feng said, adding that it was with this in mind that voters cast out the “elitist families.”
Ma has continually used the economy and the so-called “China factor” to threaten people almost as if he thinks they are ignorant, while his administration’s policies heavily favor the corporate sector and disregard the livelihoods of common Taiwanese, National Alliance of Parents’ Organizations chief executive Gordon Hsieh (謝國清) said.
National Federation of Teachers Unions deputy secretary-general Lo Te-shui (羅德水) said the results were a vote of “No confidence” in Ma’s administration and also reflect a call for a generational transition.
“The most valuable aspect of a democratic society is the ability to teach whoever is in power a lesson with votes,” he added.
Taiwan Labor Front secretary-general Sun Yu-lien (孫友聯) said that despite the KMT’s claims of prioritizing the economy, there is an increasing division between poor people and wealthy people.
“The central government’s arrogance is made evident by multiple policies, including those in the cross-strait service trade pact alongside the administration’s continued efforts to lower minimum wages for workers and its pandering to corporate groups,” Sun said.
“Events such as the rallies over the death of army corporal Hung Chung-chiu (洪仲丘) last year and the Sunflower movement in March have taught members of the public that if they truly stand up against issues, they can make changes,” Sun said, adding that this mindset can be seen from the increased voter turnout among younger people.
Taiwan Alliance for Advancement of Youth Rights and Welfare secretary-general Yeh Ta-hua (葉大華) said Ma’s government has ignored the voices of the public for far too long, adding that Taiwanese — especially the younger generation — wish to end the uneven distribution of resources.
“Their actions in multiple rallies over the past few years demonstrate their discontent with the government’s evident tilt toward the corporate sector, as well as the ‘cozying up’ among cross-strait political elites,” Yeh said, adding that this was a key factor leading many members of younger generations to participate in the elections.
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
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