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Counting begins in Taiwan elections

Counting has begun in legislative elections in Taiwan that are being seen as the most crucial in years.

China correspondent Tom O'Byrne reports that the possible make up of a power sharing coalition has dominated the campaign.

No party holds a clear majority in the island's Legislative Yuan, a body modelled on the American Congress but with strict quotas of seats set aside for key elements of Taiwanese society. This lack of a majority has caused a series of stumbles and embarrassments for President Chen Shui-bian, from the Democratic Progressive Party, during his first 18 months in office. The DPP's campaign to form a power sharing arrangement with various splinter groups, possibly even one lead by a former President Lee Teng-hui has polarised the electorate. Exit polls predict no party will win a clear majority, But early figures from polling booths appear to back up pre poll forecasts that the single biggest party in the chamber at Quomintang could lose its slim, but long standing majority.

1/12/01 23:51:05 | ABC Radio Australia News

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