2001 Kuomintang chairmanship election

The 2001 Kuomintang chairmanship election (Chinese: 2001年中國國民黨主席選舉) was held on 24 March 2001 in Taiwan. This was the first direct party leadership election in Kuomintang history in which all registered, due-paying party members were eligible to vote. In previous elections, only 2,000 high-ranking members could cast votes.

2001 Kuomintang chairmanship election
24 March 2001
Turnout57.9%
 
Nominee Lien Chan
Popular vote 521,712
Percentage 97.09%
Chairman before election

Lien Chan

 Elected Chairman

Lien Chan

History

Lee Teng-hui had assumed the presidency and Kuomintang chairmanship in 1988, after the death of Chiang Ching-kuo. With the help of Lien Chan, Lee had withstood a challenge to his leadership in 1997, shortly after the Kuomintang lost that year's local elections handily.[1] In 2000, the Kuomintang lost the presidential election to Democratic Progressive Party candidate Chen Shui-bian, and discontent over Lee's leadership had again broken out.[2][3] He planned to resign the chairmanship in September,[4] but eventually submitted his resignation on 24 March,[5] after days of speculation and protest.[6] Lien Chan succeeded Lee as chairman in June.[7] The first direct leadership election was scheduled for 24 March 2001. In previous elections, only 2,000 party representatives could vote for the office.[8]

Election

Lien Chan registered for the election on 9 February 2001,[9] and ran unopposed, as Tuan Hung-chun was declared ineligible.[7] Lien was required to gather a petition of three percent of the party membership to validate his candidacy.[7] He garnered 521,712 of 537,370 votes in the election itself, at a time when the Kuomintang had an eligible voter count of 928,175.[10] Lien won 97.09% of all votes cast, a record that would stand until 2015, when Eric Chu was elected.[11]

References
  1. Liu, Weiling (12 December 1997). "Lee's party chairmanship unshaken". Taiwan Today. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  2. Han Cheung (15 March 2020). "Taiwan in Time: The KMT's first downfall". Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  3. "Protesters Denounce Taiwan President". Los Angeles Times. 21 March 2000. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  4. Chu, Henry (23 March 2000). "Taiwan's Lee Reportedly Quitting Party Post Now". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  5. "President Resigns as Party Leader". Los Angeles Times. 24 March 2000. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  6. Chu, Henry (20 March 2000). "Outgoing Taiwan Leader to Quit as Head of Party". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  7. Lin, Chieh-yu (24 March 2001). "Lien gears up for polls". Taipei Times. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  8. Huang, Joyce (30 January 2001). "KMT membership drive wraps up after five months". Taipei Times. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  9. "Lien Chan registers candidacy for KMT chairmanship". Kyodo News. 9 February 2001. Retrieved 14 May 2016 – via The Free Library.
  10. Lin, Chieh-yu (25 March 2001). "No surprise as Lien wins election". Taipei Times. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  11. Shih, Hsiu-chuan (18 January 2015). "KMT elects Eric Chu as chairman". Taipei Times. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
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