Back to basics

l  Taiwan's 2012 presidential campaign returned to basics in early August as both the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) and the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) began to talk more about the issues.

l  For President Ma Ying-jeou and the KMT, the objective is to make sure that, first and foremost, people understand and appreciate the policies and reforms which were implemented in the last three years. From the breakthroughs in cross-Strait economic relations, the second-generation national health insurance plan, to the luxury tax, Ma would like to emphasize the measures pursued by his administration to address problems like Taiwan’s economic marginalization and domestic socioeconomic inequality.

l  The DPP, on the other hand, has identified the widening wealth gap, socioeconomic inequality, and the “erosion” of Taiwan’s sovereignty as the major campaign issues. Although the DPP’s cross-Strait policy will remain important, the 2012 presidential election could be the first time that the opposition will concentrate more on domestic “quality-of-life” issues instead.

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