Taiwan News
Date: 2016-03-26
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Former Legislative Vice Speaker Hung Hsiu-chu was elected the first-ever female leader of the Kuomintang Saturday, winning more than half the votes in the first round.

All through the campaign, Hung, 67, had called for an absolute majority in order not to waste time as the KMT turns from a long-term ruling party into the main opposition. In the absence of any candidate winning at least 50 percent Saturday, there would have been a second round on April 16 between the two leading candidates.

Hung received 78,829 votes or 56.16 percent, defeating acting chairwoman Huang Min-hui, who received 46,341 votes or 33.02 percent, Taipei City councilor Lee Hsin, with 7,604 votes or 5.42 percent, and legislator Apollo Chen with 6,784 votes or 4.83 percent.

Despite the relatively good weather, the turnout was especially low at only 41.61 percent of the more than 337,000 party members eligible to vote at the 476 polling stations across the country, reports said.     [FULL  STORY]