Record-breaking crowd of over 150,000 rallies for DPP in final countdown to Taiwan’s Presidential Election

TAIWAN, TAIPEI: With just 48 hours left until Taiwan’s presidential election, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) held a massive rally on Ketagalan Boulevard last night, drawing a record-breaking crowd of over 150,000 people.

The enthusiastic supporters, chanting slogans like “Virtue Wins Taiwan,” completely surrounded Taipei East Gate (JingFu Gate), stretching from Zhongshan South Road to Renai Road.

President Tsai Ing-wen, the highlight of the evening, made a compelling appearance, urging voters to “believe in him one more time” and cast their votes for Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim.

Tsai reflected on her 8-year tenure, highlighting achievements such as salary increases, tax reductions, long-term care, and youth support, acknowledging both successes and shortcomings. “Change is for the better; stability brings change. As long as we’re moving in the right direction, we’ll reach our destination,” Tsai stated.

Incumbent Taiwan President, Tsai Ing Wen

Key accomplishments under Tsai’s leadership include the launch of Taiwan’s first self-made submarine, the Hai Bao, and a doubling of the Taiwan Stock Exchange index, surpassing Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index.

Taiwan’s GDP per capita has exceeded South Korea’s, and the country’s green energy generation has surpassed nuclear power for two consecutive years. Exports have grown by over 70%, with a significant reduction in dependency on China.

Tsai proudly declared Taiwan as the 21st largest economy in the world with a population of 23 million, ranking 6th globally in national competitiveness. Taiwan leads Asia in democracy, freedom, and was the first in the region to achieve marriage equality.

Tsai thanked the people for their 8-year support of the DPP, acknowledging imperfections but emphasizing her commitment to the nation’s progress. She expressed her belief in Lai Ching-te as the most prepared and reliable leader for Taiwan, encouraging continued support for the “Tsai Ing-wen route.”

Democratic Progressive Party’s President Candidate, Lai Ching-te, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen, and DPP’s Vice-President Candidate, Hsiao Bi-khim.

Lai Ching-te, set to take the stage tonight in Banqiao, emphasized Taiwan’s critical choice between progress or regression, openness or isolation, democracy or authoritarianism.

He presented his “Four Guarantees,” including national defense, life protection, democratic governance, and the pursuit of national hopes, stressing the importance of choosing the right leader for Taiwan’s future.

Lai also acknowledged areas needing improvement, promising accountability and pledging to respond effectively to public expectations. He called for support for the DPP’s legislative candidates, ensuring Taiwan’s steady progress.

Despite the chilly 12°C weather in Taipei, DPP supporters’ spirits remained high, peaking at Lai’s appearance.

The event concluded with rallying cries for unity and progress, setting the stage for today’s final pre-election rally in Banqiao, where the DPP will face off against the Kuomintang and the New Power Party, only 1.4 kilometers apart.

The Central Election Commission (CEC) announced on Tuesday that for the upcoming presidential election on 13 January, a total of 19,548,531 people are eligible to vote. However, an additional 17,476 individuals will be able to vote for legislators-at-large due to a residency requirement difference between the two elections.

Furthermore, 19.03 million voters are eligible to cast their votes for district legislators, while 438,199 of the electorate can vote for indigenous legislators.

Among the six municipalities, New Taipei boasts the highest number of eligible voters, totalling 3.4 million. This is followed by Taichung with 2.32 million, Kaohsiung with 2.31 million, Taipei with 2.09 million, Taoyuan with 1.88 million, and Tainan with 1.56 million voters.

In the presidential election, the largest voting bloc comprises individuals aged 40-49, with 3.88 million eligible voters, making up 19.88 percent of the electorate. This is followed by the 50-59 year-old group, which includes 3.53 million eligible voters, accounting for 18.06 percent of the electorate, according to the CEC.

The CEC also noted that approximately 2.84 million young voters aged 20-29 are eligible to vote in this presidential election.

On the day of the election, voters will receive three different ballots: one for the presidential election, one for either a regional or aboriginal legislator and one for a political party, which will determine the allocation of legislator-at-large seats.