Taiwan chief administrator resigns after defeat in elections

TAIPEI - Taiwan chief administrator Jiang Yi-huah announced his resignation after the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) Party suffered a defeat in local elections held on Saturday.

Jiang announced the decision at a press conference on Saturday evening and it was approved by Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou.

Jiang said the voting results showed the public's discontent with the government's administration and he decided to take the political responsibility, hoping Ma could appoint a new chief administrator as soon as possible to face up to challenges.

Ma, also chairman of the KMT Party, said he has accepted the resignation of the party's Secretary-General Tseng Yung-chuan at a separate press conference.

"The KMT has suffered a huge defeat in the elections and I must apologize to all the Party members and supporters as well," Ma said, adding he will soon propose a reform plan to respond to the people's appeal.

The KMT Party won six county and city chief seats in Taiwan's biggest-ever local elections, while the opposition Democratic Progressive Party landed 13 seats, according to the island's electoral authorities.

The other 3 seats of the island's 22 county and city chiefs were picked up by independent candidates.

The polls to select 11,130 holders for nine types of public offices ranging from municipal mayors to county chiefs, city councilors, village leaders, known as "nine-in-one elections," were held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

The elections are the biggest in history in terms of candidates and open positions. It is the first time Taiwan residents elect officials for 11,130 local government and legislative positions simultaneously.