Poll shock for Taiwan

A breakthrough in local elections by Taiwan's main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) could signal the end of half a century of one-party rule by the (KMT), which ruled the Chinese mainland in 1949 when its leaders fled to Taiwan.

The DPP victory shook the Kuomintang and will irk Peking, as it dislikes the opposition's commitment to independence for Taiwan. The DPP's triumph in Saturday's election for mayors and county magistrates was largely the result of a strategy which underplayed its pro-independence platform, stressing a commitment to clean government.

Under the leadership of the former dissident Hsu Hsin-liang, the DPP has transformed itself, neutralising radicals and pushing the organisation into the mainstream. The strategy secured a majority of the popular vote for the DPP for the first time and gave it control of municipalities housing 72 per cent of the population.

Yesterday leaders said they expected victory in next year's national elections. The KMT made no effort to hide the scale of its defeat.

Wu Poh-hsiung, party secretary, offered to resign, while Prime Minister Vincent Siew said the results "show people seek change".

DPP sources say Mr Hsu is keen to pursue negotiations for a coalition government with the KMT to give party members experience of government and establish their credentials as a credible alternative.