Sun, Nov 27, 2022 page2

• 2022 ELECTIONS: Chiang Wan-an claims victory in Taipei election

  VOTERS’ CHOICE: The DPP’s Chen and independent candidate Huang conceded defeat before 7:20pm, with Chiang pledging to remain humble and do his best

  • By Lee I-chia / Staff reporter
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  Legislator Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) yesterday won the Taipei mayoral election, with the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) candidate defeating the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) pick, former minister of health and welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), and former Taipei deputy mayor Vivian Huang (黃珊珊), an independent.

  After polling stations closed at 4pm, the Taipei Election Commission issued a preliminary estimate that voter turnout in the city was about 64 percent, slightly lower than in 2018.

  Chiang, 43, is to be the youngest Taipei mayor ever, with the KMT regaining the capital after eight years.

  

  Legislator Chiang Wan-an, center, the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) mayoral candidate for Taipei, declares victory at an event in the city yesterday.

  Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times

  Chen had an exceptionally high national approval rating when he was head of the Central Epidemic Command Center during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  However, he failed to counter critics throughout his campaign involving local COVID-19 outbreaks and vaccine issues.

  At about 7pm, Chen conceded defeat to Chiang and apologized to his supporters for disappointing them, repeatedly thanking them for their backing.

  

  Former minister of health and welfare Chen Shih-chung, center, the Democratic Progressive Party’s candidate for Taipei mayor, and members of his campaign team bow to supporters in the city yesterday.

  Photo: Liu Hsin-te, Taipei Times

  “Whenever I see everyone looking at me with eyes full of expectation, how I wish I could realize our collective dreams and set this city on a new path toward change, but Taipei residents have chosen another future mayor, so I hope everyone can join me in sincerely congratulating Chiang Wan-an,” he said.

  He said he had called Chiang to congratulate him and hopes everyone can come together, irrespective of their political preferences, to support Chiang in doing a good job of governing Taipei.

  Chen said he hoped criticism of Taiwan’s COVID-19 prevention efforts would stop after the elections, as the city and the nation must move forward.

  

  Former Taipei deputy mayor Vivian Huang, center, an independent candidate for Taipei mayor, concedes defeat in the city last night while thanking voters for their support.

  Photo: CNA

  He also urged his supporters to continue supporting President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) to maintain a steady pace in the face of post-pandemic economic challenges.

  At about 7:20pm, Huang also conceded defeat and thanked her supporters for “fighting a good fight” with her.

  Although the result was below expectations, she would continue to focus on people and push political parties to the side, dedicating her life to her hometown, Taipei, she said.

  

  People cheer in front of Legislator Chiang Wan-an’s campaign office in Taipei yesterday.

  Photo: CNA

  She also urged Chiang to keep his word and accomplish his campaign promises, enabling Taipei to progress further.

  At about 8pm, Chiang declared victory, saying that it was not his victory, but rather Taipei residents voting to ensure that honesty defeated lies, democracy defeated black-box operations and light defeated darkness.

  He said he highly respects Huang and Chen, and thanked them for pointing out policy directions during campaigning.

  

  A supporter of former minister of health and welfare Chen Shih-chung, the Democratic Progressive Party’s candidate for Taipei mayor, cries outside Chen’s campaign headquarters in the city yesterday.

  Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times

  They set a good example regarding democracy, allowing the election to proceed smoothly, Chiang said.

  He said he was thankful to his supporters for trusting him and placing Taipei’s future in his hands, but he was also thankful to those who did not vote for him, as they would monitor him, so his team would be humble and try their hardest over the next four years.

  In the 2018 local elections, Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) won a narrow victory by 3,567 votes to become mayor, defeating former legislator Ting Shou-chung (丁守中) of the KMT.

  

  Supporters of former Taipei deputy mayor Vivian Huang, an independent candidate for Taipei mayor, hold flags as they watch voting results outside of Huang’s campaign office in the city yesterday.

  Photo: Tien Yu-hua, Taipei Times

  The final result was announced after 2am the next morning.

  With a voter turnout of 65.95 percent that year, Ko, who served two terms, received 580,663 votes, or 41.07 percent, while Ting garnered 577,096 votes, or 41.07 percent.

  
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