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Updated Sunday, December 6, 2009 11:45 am TWN, The China Post news staff

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KMT suffers setback

“The outcome of the elections marks a vote of no confidence by the people for the Ma administration,” said Tsai Ing-wen, chairwoman of the DPP.

She said the DPP is rebounding from its lows, but it will not be complacent, as there is still along way to go.

Observers generally agree that the outcome of the elections has attested to Ma's dwindling popularity. Ma will be facing even tougher challenges in elections in Taipei and other special municipalities next year, and his reelection bid in 2012.

Ma, conducting the first elections since taking over the party helm this summer, had been campaigning hard for the party's candidates.

He had visited Yilan several times to stump for KMT magistrate Lu Kuo-hwa, but failed to boost his reelection bid in a county with symbolic significance.

Lu was the only incumbent KMT local government chief who failed to be reelected.

Conceding defeat, Lu said that he respected the choices of the voters.

But he dismissed claims that his defeat represents Ma's failure, saying he will take full responsibility.

In Penghu, the DPP's candidate demanded a recount after losing to his KMT rival by a narrow margin. In Taitung, the KMT candidate also won by a small margin.

In Chiayi County, DPP candidate Chang Hua-kuan won by a landslide.

Chang, who had given up her seat in the national Legislature three days ahead of the election day, said her victory would teach the KMT and the president a lesson.

In Taoyuan County, KMT Honorary Chaimran Wu Poh-hsiung's son Chih-yang won, but support fell short of expectations.

The KMT elder explained that party supporters were too optimistic that his son would win, resulting in a relatively low turnout.

Voting proceeded with no major incidents.

The DPP took Yilan County, Pingtung County, Chiayi County and Yunlin County.

The KMT grabbed Keelung City, Hsinchu City and County, Nantou County, Changhua County, Chiayi City, Taitung County, Penghu County, Kinmen County and Lienchang County (Matsu).

Apart from the county and city government, voters also elected members to their respective representative bodies, as well as village and township chiefs.

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