Social Democratic Party (Taiwan)

The Social Democratic Party (SDP; Chinese: 社會民主黨) is a centre-left political party in Taiwan founded in 2015.[1][2][3] The SDP is one of Taiwan's "Third Force" (第三勢力) parties, a collection of parties that do not self-claim to either the Pan-Green or Pan-Blue Coalitions and tend to be rooted in social movements.[4][5] In 2015, the SDP formed a coalition with the Green Party Taiwan to contest the 2016 legislative election.

Social Democratic Party 社會民主黨
Abbreviation	SDP
Leader	Ting Yung-yan
Founded	29 March 2015
Headquarters	2nd Floor, No. 70, Yanping South Road, Zhongzheng, Taipei, Taiwan
Ideology	Social democracy
Political position	Centre-left
Legislative Yuan	0 / 113
Local councillors	1 / 912
Website
sdparty.tw
Politics of Taiwan Political parties Elections

Political ideology

The SDP is a social-democratic and progressive party, calling for a reduction in income inequality, the protection of labour rights, the abolition of the death penalty and the legalisation of same-sex marriage.[6] The party has also called for a reform to Taiwan's electioneering process, criticising the advantage given to parties with big financial backers.[7]

Electoral history

In the 2016 legislative election, the SDP ran in a coalition with the Green Party Taiwan, garnering 2.5% of the vote and winning no seats.[8]

In the 2018 local elections SDP candidate Miao Po-ya (苗博雅) won a seat on the Taipei City Council. She is one of the first openly lesbian member of the municipal council.[9]

Election	Mayors & Magistrates	Councils	Third-level Municipal heads	Third-level Municipal councils	Fourth-level Village heads	Election Leader
2018 unified	0 / 22	1 / 912	0 / 204	0 / 2,148	0 / 7,744	Fan Yun

References

1. Joseph Wong (8 January 2016). "Taiwan Elections 2016: Certain Outcome, Uncertain Implications". asiapacific.ca. Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.
2. "Taiwan's new political voices want more openness on China ties". reuters.com. Reuters.
3. "Activists set to launch Social Democratic Party - Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com.
4. "Civic groups voice support for 'third force' - Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com.
5. Diplomat, Linda van der Horst, The. "The Rise of Taiwan's 'Third Force'".
6. Hioe, Brian (4 September 2015). "Interview: Jennifer Lu (呂欣潔)". New Bloom Magazine. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
7. Wilson, Aaron Wytze (14 January 2016). "SDP's Chen Shang-chih Election Ads Go Viral". New Bloom Magazine. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
8. Fell, Dafydd (2016) 'Small Parties in Taiwan’s 2016 National Elections: A Limited Breakthrough?'. American Journal of Chinese Studies, (23) 1, pp 41-58.
9. News, Taiwan. "Taiwan to see first-ever openly lesbian councillor". Taiwan News. Retrieved 15 December 2018.