Taiwan’s 2016 Presidential and Legislative Elections

Taiwan’s 2016 Presidential and Legislative ElectionsJonathan Sullivan and James Smyth

Abstract: The January 16, 2016 ROC elections, represent the sixth time the ROC president has been elected by popular vote and the eighth general election of all representatives to the Legislative Yuan.1 They also represent the third turnover of party-in-power, and the first time that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has won simultaneous control of the presidency and the legislature. In this election note, we assess the Ma Ying-jeou presidency, the conditions that led up to the 2016 elections, including the “mid-terms” in November 2014, describe the campaigns and analyse the results with an eye to the implications for domestic political competition and cross-Strait relations of the DPP winning control of the executive and legislative branches of government.