Heads of Taiwan’s main political parties cast their ballots

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The heads of Taiwan's main political parties, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the opposition Kuomintang and the Taiwan People's Party, cast their ballots in the local elections on Saturday morning (Nov. 26).

President Tsai Ing-wen, who is also the DPP chairperson, cast her votes in the 9-in-1 elections in a polling station located in the Yonghe District of New Taipei City.

"This is the most important moment in our practice of democracy," President Tsai said. "I also hope that all the citizens of our country can use their votes to decide the future of our hometowns."

She was accompanied by Lin Chia-lung, the DPP New Taipei mayoral candidate.

The chairman of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), Eric Chu, also cast his ballots in Taoyuan, where he was once the magistrate.

"I have plenty of feelings for this area," remarked Chu. "I also hope that in the future, Taoyuan will have the best mayor who has a global vision and leads with a focus on technology."

Chu wore a controversial sports jacket with the logo of the KMT but with a different motto: "Keep Moving Taiwan." The jacket attracted media attention as it is forbidden to display party logos, slogans or use election materials in polling stations.

Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, who is also the chairman of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) cast his votes in the capital city too.

"(Chen Pei-chi, his wife) has to vote anyway, so we vote together," said Ko. "The original plan was that I would first go to Hsinchu, and then come back to Taipei to accompany Vivian Huang (the candidate in the Taipei election)."