Republic of China legislative election, 1980
Encyclopedia
The fourth supplementary elections for the National Assembly
and Legislative Yuan
were held in the Republic of China
on 6 December 1980.
after breaking off their diplomatic relations with the Republic of China just days before the elections were planned. They were subsequently held in December 1980. These elections became a turning point. Under the leadership of President Chiang Ching-kuo
agreements were made with Tangwai
leaders and other independent politicians so they could compete for seats with Kuomintang
candidates. So these elections were the first competitive elections for Taiwan on a national level.
Compared with the last supplementary elections in 1972
for the National Assembly and 1975
for the Legislative Yuan, the number of eligible seats for the National Assembly had been increased from 53 to 76 and for the Legislative Yuan from 52 to 97. Of these, 70 represented Taiwan Province
and the special municipalities of Taipei
and Kaohsiung
were to be elected directly. The remaining 27 seats were to represent Mainland Chinese living on Taiwan
. These delegates were chosen by the President after being advised by organizations representing the Mainland Chinese population on Taiwan.
and 14 were independents. Of the 70 directly elected delegates to the Legislative Yuan 56 belonged to the Kuomintang and 14 were independents. Of these independents 9 could be counted to the Tangwai. All chosen were born Taiwanese except for 14 (7 in each of the legislative bodies) who were born on the Mainland or from parents from the Mainland.
National Assembly of the Republic of China
The National Assembly of the Republic of China refers to several parliamentary bodies that existed in the Republic of China. The National Assembly was originally founded in 1913 as the first legislature in Chinese history, but was disbanded less than a year later as President Yuan Shikai assumed...
and Legislative Yuan
Legislative Yuan
The Legislative Yuan is the unicameral legislature of the Republic of China .The Legislative Yuan is one of the five branches of government stipulated by the Constitution of the Republic of China, which follows Sun Yat-sen's Three Principles of the People...
were held in the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
on 6 December 1980.
Background
Originally these elections were scheduled for December 1978. They were postponed because of the shock caused by the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
after breaking off their diplomatic relations with the Republic of China just days before the elections were planned. They were subsequently held in December 1980. These elections became a turning point. Under the leadership of President Chiang Ching-kuo
Chiang Ching-kuo
Chiang Ching-kuo , Kuomintang politician and leader, was the son of President Chiang Kai-shek and held numerous posts in the government of the Republic of China...
agreements were made with Tangwai
Tangwai
The Tangwai movement was a political movement in the Republic of China in the mid-1970s and early 1980s. Although the Kuomintang had allowed contested elections for a small number of seats in Legislative Yuan, opposition parties were still forbidden...
leaders and other independent politicians so they could compete for seats with Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
candidates. So these elections were the first competitive elections for Taiwan on a national level.
Compared with the last supplementary elections in 1972
Republic of China legislative election, 1972
The second supplementary elections took place for the National Assembly and Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China on 23 December 1972.-Background:...
for the National Assembly and 1975
Republic of China legislative election, 1975
The third supplementary elections for the Legislative Yuan were held in the Republic of China on 20 December 1975.Compared with the second supplementary election the number of new delegates to the Legislative Yuan had been increased by one to 52, because of an increase in population...
for the Legislative Yuan, the number of eligible seats for the National Assembly had been increased from 53 to 76 and for the Legislative Yuan from 52 to 97. Of these, 70 represented Taiwan Province
Taiwan Province
Taiwan Province is one of the two administrative divisions referred to as provinces and is controlled by the Republic of China . The province covers approximately 73% of the territory controlled by the Republic of China...
and the special municipalities of Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
and Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
were to be elected directly. The remaining 27 seats were to represent Mainland Chinese living on Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. These delegates were chosen by the President after being advised by organizations representing the Mainland Chinese population on Taiwan.
Results
Turnout for both the supplementary elections of the National Assembly and the Legislative Yuan was 66,4%. Of the newly elected members to the National Assembly 61 belonged to the Kuomintang, one to 1 the Chinese Youth PartyChinese Youth Party
The Young China Party , also known as the Chinese Youth Party, is a minor political party in the Republic of China...
and 14 were independents. Of the 70 directly elected delegates to the Legislative Yuan 56 belonged to the Kuomintang and 14 were independents. Of these independents 9 could be counted to the Tangwai. All chosen were born Taiwanese except for 14 (7 in each of the legislative bodies) who were born on the Mainland or from parents from the Mainland.
Legislative Yuan
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kuomintang Kuomintang The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused... |
79 | |||
| Chinese Youth Party Chinese Youth Party The Young China Party , also known as the Chinese Youth Party, is a minor political party in the Republic of China... |
2 | |||
| Independents | 16 | |||
| Invalid/blank votes | 210,565 | |||
| Total | 6,584,338 | 100 | 97 | +45 |
| Source: Nohlen et al | ||||
National Assembly
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kuomintang Kuomintang The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused... |
61 | |||
| China Democratic Socialist Party China Democratic Socialist Party The China Democratic Socialist Party was founded in Shanghai on 15 August 1946. It was formed through the merger of the former Chinese National Socialist Party and the Democratic Constitutionalist Party , both of which had survived the years of Japanese aggression by generally supporting the... |
1 | New | ||
| Independents | 14 | |||
| Invalid/blank votes | 237,782 | |||
| Total | 6,570,847 | 100 | 76 | +23 |
| Source: Nohlen et al | ||||