FAREWELL? : Although he promised to 'continue to protect Taiwan,' Hsieh also hinted that he would make good on a promise to quit politics if he lost
By Ko Shu-ling
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday conceded defeat and promised to "keep all his promises" following his loss in the presidential election.

[ FULL STORY ]

By Shelley Shan
Supporters of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) gathered outside the party's campaign headquarters in Taipei yesterday afternoon and watched as vote tallies were displayed on television screens.

[ FULL STORY ]

By Shih Hsiu-chuan
With the odds heavily stacked against him as a result of public displeasure with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration's performance over the past eight years, DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday succumbed to an almost inevitable defeat.

[ FULL STORY ]

PAN-BLUE MERGER: KMT Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung announced that the PFP would merge with his party when he was joined on stage by PFP chief James Soong
By Mo Yan-chih
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) won an emphatic victory over his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) rival in yesterday's presidential poll, regaining power for the first time since the DPP ended the KMT's rule eight years ago.

[ FULL STORY ]

By Angelica Oung
Rain failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the ebullient crowd that gathered in front of the campaign headquarters of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) last night. Ma's supporters went wild as the election results trickled in and it became increasingly clear that their candidate was not just going to win, but would land a resounding victory.

[ FULL STORY ]

DOMESTIC CONCERNS: Voters appeared to discount accusations against Ma Ying-jeou because of his promises of economic reform and unhappiness with the DPP's actions
By Flora Wang
Voters witnessed the nation's second transition of power last night as Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) defeated Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) rival Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) by a wide margin, bringing an end to the DPP's eight years in office.

[ FULL STORY ]

BEACON: Visiting politicians and officials praised the calm and quiet election, the high turnout and the transparent ballot counting as marks of a progressing democracy
By Jenny W. Hsu
Foreign observers yesterday praised the smooth and peaceful conduct of the presidential election yesterday, saying that the uneventful day was a mark of Taiwan's democratic maturity.

[ FULL STORY ]

With the election of a new president yesterday, the Cabinet will freeze all personnel changes until the presidential inauguration on May 20, Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) said yesterday.

[ FULL STORY ]

By Charles Snyder
US President George W. Bush, signaling his administration's pleasure over Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) victory, praised Ma and the Taiwanese people, in a statement issued shortly after the results of the election were announced.

[ FULL STORY ]

Beijing was likely to be pleased with Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) election as the nation's next president yesterday, a victory China hopes will bring the sides closer to renewing bilateral talks, a leading Chinese academic said.

[ FULL STORY ]

US MEDIA: The violent suppression of protests in Tibet raised awareness of Taiwan's election, with reports by leading US dailies and TV programs
By Charles Snyder
The violent crackdown by Chinese authorities on demonstrations in Tibet significantly raised the profile of Taiwan and the country's presidential election in the US on the eve of the vote, a development that is sure to make average Americans more aware of what is at stake in Taiwan.

[ FULL STORY ]

INVALIDATED: The DPP referendum received more than 6 million votes, of which 94.01 percent were in the affirmative. More than 87 percent said yes in the KMT's
By Meggie Lu
The nation's fifth and sixth referendums, both of which turned to the question of whether the nation should apply to join the UN, received a double rejection yesterday, with a turnout of about 35 percent, demonstrating that so far the nation has been unable to reach a consensus on the matter.

[ FULL STORY ]

By Loa Iok-sin and Jenny W. Hsu
The failure of both UN membership referendums could block Taiwan's attempt to participate in international organizations, but may also present an opportunity to reform the referendum system, political observers said.

[ FULL STORY ]

By Rich Chang
Although most polling stations around the country reported an orderly voting day yesterday, there were some incidents and altercations.

[ FULL STORY ]

UNDER PRESSURE: The TAIEX could extend its gains to 8,700 points in the week ahead, although uncertainty about the macroeconomic environment may cap gains
By Lisa Wang
The local stock market is expected to stage a short-lived rally next week as some investors maintain interest in buying stocks in financial, or traditional sectors, which are seen as major beneficiaries of the new government's economic stimulus measures.

[ FULL STORY ]

LOOKING AHEAD: The new government will have to pay particular attention to maintaining long-term fiscal stability while keeping up tax reforms, analysts said
By Jerry Lin and Kevin Chen
A demand for solid economic growth with fiscal stability, a call for improved cross-strait economic ties without jeopardizing the nation's sovereign status, and the pressure of rising inflation present the major challenges to the new government, economists said yesterday after the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) won the presidential election.

[ FULL STORY ]

REACTION: With the KMT in control of the legislature and the Executive Yuan, it will have no excuse if the economy fails to improve, industry associations said
By Joyce Huang
Major local business groups yesterday urged the newly elected Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) to help turn around the nation's sluggish economy by pushing for better trade ties with China.

[ FULL STORY ]