New Party (Republic of China)

New Party
新黨
Xīn Dăng
Leader Yok Mu-ming
Founder Chen Kuei-miao[1]
Founded August 1993
Headquarters Taipei City
Ideology Conservatism,
Chinese reunification
Political position Centre-right
International affiliation none
Legislative Yuan
0 / 113
Local Councillors
3 / 906
Website
http://www.np.org.tw/
Politics of the Republic of China
Political parties
Elections
New Party (Republic of China)
Traditional Chinese 新黨
Simplified Chinese 新党
New Party Headquarters

The New Party (NP), formerly the Chinese New Party (CNP), is a centre-right conservative minor party in the Republic of China (ROC, commonly known as "Taiwan"), and part of the pan-blue coalition.

History

The New Party was formed out of a split from the then-ruling Kuomintang (KMT) by members of the New Kuomintang Alliance in August 1993. Members of the Alliance had accused KMT Chairman Lee Teng-hui of autocratic tendencies and moving the party away from Chinese reunification. Co-founders of the New Party included Chen Kuei-miao.[1] Originally, the party wanted to keep the name of the faction, but was prevented from doing so due to the similarity of names. The name "New Party" was seemingly inspired by the contemporary electoral success of the Japan New Party ("Nihon Shintō"; see Politics of Japan).

In the mid-1990s, the New Party attracted support from the KMT old guard as well as young urban professionals. The New Party was aided by former Finance Minister Wang Chien-shien and former Environmental Protection Administration Director Chao Shaokong, who had charismatic and clean images.

In the 2000 presidential election, the party nominated writer and dissident Li Ao who ran a spirited but token campaign. In the election, most members of the party supported James Soong, and in fact both Li Ao and the chairman of the New Party encouraged people to do so. In the 2001 Legislative Yuan election, the party only won 1 seat in Kinmen.

In the 2006 municipal elections, the New Party made significant gains, seating over a dozen members into public office. The New Party also gained four seats in Taipei Major private offices.

In the 2008 and 2012 Legislative Yuan elections, the party didn't win any seat.

Election results

Presidential elections

Election Candidate Running mate Total votes Share of votes Outcome
2000 Li Ao Elmer Fung Hu-hsiang 16,782 0.13% Lost Red X

Legislative elections

Election Total seats won Total votes Share of votes Outcome of election Election leader
1995
21 / 164
 1,222,931 13.0% Increase21 seats; Opposition Chen Kuei-miao
1998
11 / 225
 708,465 7.1% Decrease10 seats; Opposition Chou Yang-shan
2001
1 / 225
 269,620 2.9% Decrease8 seats; Governing coalition (Pan-Blue) Yok Mu-ming
2004
1 / 225
 12,137 0.13% Steady; Governing coalition (Pan-Blue) Yok Mu-ming
2008
0 / 113
 199,402 53.5% Decrease1 seats; No seats Yok Mu-ming
2012
0 / 113
 10,678 0.08% Steady; No seats Yok Mu-ming
Yok Mu-ming at the New Party rally in 228 Park.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Wen, Kuei-hsiang (2014-08-16). "New Party founder dies at 81". Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 2014-09-04.

External links