New Party (Taiwan)

New Party
新黨
Xīn Dăng
Leader Yok Mu-ming
Founder Chen Kuei-miao
Founded August 22, 1993
Headquarters Taipei
Ideology Chinese nationalism
Conservatism
Political position Right-wing
International affiliation none
Legislative Yuan
0 / 113
Local Councillors
2 / 906
Website
www.np.org.tw
New Party
Traditional Chinese 新黨
Simplified Chinese 新党
New Party Headquarters

The New Party (NP), formerly the Chinese New Party (CNP), is a conservative political party supporting Chinese unification in Taiwan, and part of the pan-blue coalition.

History

The New Party was formed out of a split from the then-ruling Kuomintang (KMT) by members of the New Kuomintang Alliance on August 22, 1993.[1] Members of the Alliance had accused KMT Chairman Lee Teng-hui of autocratic tendencies and moving the party away from Chinese reunification. Co-founders of the New Party included Chen Kuei-miao.[2] Originally, the party wanted to keep the name of the faction, but was prevented from doing so due to the similarity of names. The name "New Party" was seemingly inspired by the contemporary electoral success of the Japan New Party ("Nihon Shintō"; see Politics of Japan).

In the mid-1990s, the New Party attracted support from the KMT old guard as well as young urban professionals. The New Party was aided by former Finance Minister Wang Chien-shien and former Environmental Protection Administration Director Chao Shaokong, who had charismatic and clean images.

In the 2000 presidential election, the party nominated writer and dissident Li Ao who ran a spirited but token campaign. In the election, most members of the party supported James Soong, and in fact both Li Ao and the chairman of the New Party encouraged people to do so. In the 2001 Legislative Yuan election, the party only won 1 seat in Kinmen.

In the 2006 municipal elections, the New Party made significant gains, seating over a dozen members into public office. The New Party also gained four seats in Taipei Major private offices.

Since the 2008 Legislative Yuan elections, the party hasn't won any seats.

Election results

Presidential elections

Election Candidate Running mate Total votes Share of votes Outcome
2000 Li Ao Elmer Fung Hu-hsiang 16,782 0.13% Lost Red X

Legislative elections

Election Total seats won Total votes Share of votes Outcome of election Election leader
1995
21 / 164
1,222,931 13.0% Increase21 seats; Opposition Chen Kuei-miao
1998
11 / 225
708,465 7.1% Decrease10 seats; Opposition Chou Yang-shan
2001
1 / 225
269,620 2.9% Decrease8 seats; Governing coalition (Pan-Blue) Yok Mu-ming
2004
1 / 225
12,137 0.13% Steady; Governing coalition (Pan-Blue) Yok Mu-ming
2008
0 / 113
199,402 53.5% Decrease1 seats; No seats Yok Mu-ming
2012
0 / 113
10,678 0.08% Steady; No seats Yok Mu-ming
2016
0 / 113
510,074 4.18% Steady; No seats Yok Mu-ming
Yok Mu-ming at the New Party rally in 228 Park.

See also

References

  1. Tai, Y.C.; Liu, L.Y.; Lin, Lillian (22 August 2015). "New Party throws weight behind KMT in legislative election". Central News Agency. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  2. Wen, Kuei-hsiang (2014-08-16). "New Party founder dies at 81". Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 2014-09-04.

External links

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