The KMT Returns to Power: Elections in Taiwan, 2008-2012

In this book the author examines how the Nationalist Party (Kuomintang or KMT) returned to govern Taiwan after ruling for more than half a century but losing power in 2000 when the opposition Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Chen Shui-bian won the presidency and was reelected in 2004.

Out of power and playing the role of opposition party the KMT won legislative and executive elections in 2008. It subsequently won mayoral elections in 2010 and elections again to the legislative and executive branches of government in 2012.

The KMT returned to power by resolving internal differences between older and younger factions in the party, maintaining an alliance with friendly parties and preventing philosophical differences from mattering. It was helped by the debilitating corruption of the DPP’s President Chen and good campaigning.

In assessing these KMT election victories the author concludes that the KMT will probably remain the ruling party for some time. Its reputation for good economic management, democratization, honesty and good leaders seen against the DPP’s still damaged reputation due to Chen’s corruption, internal disagreements, its perorocial base, its inability to deal with China and the United States inhibit it from being able to return to power.