An independent candidate backed by Taiwan's opposition, pro-independence party on Saturday claimed victory in local elections as the next Mayor of Taipei, breaking the ruling party's 16-year hold on the island's capital.
Meanwhile, Taiwan President Ma Ying-Jeou has said that the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) party has suffered a serious setback following local elections.
The win by Ko Wen-je, 55, a trauma surgeon, is a setback for the KMT party ahead of a presidential election in less than two years. Mr. Ko defeated KMT candidate Sean Lien, the son of a wealthy, politically-connected family.
The race for the Mayor's job had been widely interpreted as a test of confidence in the China-friendly government of Taiwan President Ma Ying-Jeou.
"Professor Ko will deliver his acceptance speech," Liu Shi-chung, a media liaison for Mr. Ko's campaign, told Reuters . Mr. Ko will give his speech at 1130 GMT, Mr. Liu said.
Every Taiwan President has been a former Mayor of Taipei after the island introduced direct presidential elections in 1996.
"We congratulate Mr. Ko," Mr. Lien said in his concession speech. "I'm sorry I didn't win this election."
Taiwan citizens went to the polls to elect Mayors and Councillors for a record 11,130 seats across the island.
The final results, which have yet to be confirmed by the Central Election Commission, are expected from 1200 GMT.
Taiwan's Premier resigns
Taiwan's Premier announced his resignation on Saturday after the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) party's trouncing in local elections.
Jiang Yi-huah, in a hastily called news conference, said his resignation had been accepted by President Ma Ying-Jeou.
The KMT lost its two strongholds of Taipei, the capital, and Taichung, in central Taiwan, in the election for Mayors and Councillors at the local level island-wide.
The race for the Taipei Mayor's job had been widely interpreted as a test of confidence in Mr. Ma's China-friendly government.
