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Updated Sunday, January 10, 2010 9:26 am TWN, The China Post news staff

The main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won all three legislative seats up for grabs in by-elections held yesterday. They include Kuo Rung-tsung in northern Taoyuan ...

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KMT set back again

The latest gains will allow the DPP to have one-fourth of the total seats in the Legislature — which will give it power to propose constitutional amendments and to launch a recall of the president.

“Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen urged party members to regard the election result as an encouragement instead of a victory,” DPP Secretary-General Su Jia-chyuan cited the party leader as saying.

Su also expressed gratitude to voters for putting the opposition party in better position to check the KMT's dominance of the Legislature.

Despite having one-fourth of the legislative seats, Su said the DPP will not seek a vote for the recall of Ma.

Lai, who won in Taitung, said voters in the eastern county are looking for a change.

All three KMT candidates conceded defeat. Yu, who lost in Taichung, said he did not work hard enough, and would not put the blame on anyone else. He said he respected the voters' decision.

Turnout for the by-elections was low compared to previous races: 38.42 percent in Taoyuan, 45.09 percent in Taichung and 39.44 percent in Taitung, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC).

The CEC is scheduled to formally declare the candidates' victory on Jan. 15.

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