TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) is facing a stark political reality as his public approval rating has plummeted to just 32% after nearly one year in office, while disapproval has surged to 55%, according to a new TVBS Poll Center survey released Thursday (May 15). These figures mark Lai's lowest approval and highest disapproval ratings since taking office in May 2024, with public dissatisfaction exceeding the critical 50% threshold for the first time in his young presidency.
The political erosion is particularly striking when compared to Lai's 100-day honeymoon period, when his approval stood at a more robust 40%. In less than eight months, the president has experienced an 8-percentage-point decline in support while public disapproval has skyrocketed by 23 percentage points from 32% last August. These troubling numbers emerge as Lai's administration approaches its first anniversary amid continuing efforts to address Taiwan's economic development, navigate complex diplomatic challenges, pursue judicial reform, and tackle high-visibility domestic issues like fraud prevention and the island's persistent housing affordability crisis.
When viewed through the lens of Taiwan's democratic history, Lai's first-year approval rating of 32% carries additional significance, ranking second-lowest among the island's democratically elected presidents since direct presidential elections began in 1996. His numbers surpass only his predecessor and political ally Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), who recorded an even more dismal 28% at the same point in her presidency. Former presidents enjoyed substantially stronger public support at their one-year marks, with Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) at 41%, Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) at 38%, and Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) at 37%.
Political analysts in Taipei suggest the declining numbers reflect a growing public frustration with the sluggish pace of Lai's promised reforms and mounting economic concerns, particularly the persistent housing affordability crisis that has disproportionately affected younger voters who formed a crucial support base for Lai in the 2024 election. Beyond specific policy disappointments, the survey revealed broader anxieties about Taiwan's overall trajectory, with only 36% of respondents believing the president is steering the self-governing island in the right direction, while a substantial 49% expressed the opposite view.
The poll reveals a deepening crisis of confidence in Lai's leadership capabilities, with public trust in his future performance deteriorating sharply. Just 38% of respondents expressed confidence in the president's ability to lead effectively going forward, while an overwhelming 57% indicated they lack faith in his leadership — marking another critical metric where negative sentiment has crossed the psychologically significant 50% threshold, a worrying sign for an administration not yet at its first anniversary.
Political observers in both Taipei and Washington note that while mid-term approval slumps are a common phenomenon for Taiwan's presidents, the unusually rapid decline in Lai's numbers presents significant challenges for his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Taiwan's ruling party that has traditionally advocated for a distinct Taiwanese identity, as it prepares for crucial local elections later next year. The party now faces the difficult task of rebuilding public trust while navigating Taiwan's complex domestic challenges and cross-strait tensions with China.
The TVBS survey that delivered these sobering numbers was conducted between May 10 and 12, 2025, using standard polling methodology with a sample size of 1,086 adults across Taiwan's various regions and demographics. It carries a margin of error of ±3 percentage points. ◼
