Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/01/05
By: Tai Ya-chen and Elaine Hou

Taipei, Jan. 5 (CNA) More than 300 candidates will vie for 73 directly elected seats in Taiwan’s Legislature in national elections on Jan.16, over 30 percent more than four years ago, the Central Election Commission announced on Tuesday.

A total of 354 district legislative candidates — including those from the ruling Kuomintang and the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party — have registered to compete to represent Taiwan’s 73 electoral districts, compared with 269 in the 2012 elections.

Several new parties have also nominated candidates in the legislative elections, including the New Power Party, the Minkuotang, and the Faith and Hope League.

Many of the parties were formed in 2015 because of dissatisfaction with the performances of the existing major parties.

Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan has a total of 113 seats. In addition to the 73 legislative seats that will be elected in “first-past-the-post” races, there are six seats reserved for aboriginal candidates and the other 34 seats go to at-large legislators.     [FULL  STORY]