“Excited sister” – a fixture at Kuomintang rallies – makes her presence identified at a rally for KMT presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih on January 6.
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“Excited sister” – a fixture at Kuomintang rallies – makes her presence identified at a rally for KMT presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih on January 6.
A Rong Xu for NPR
TAIPEI, Taiwan — Amid a stunning show of coloration and theater, Taiwan, the one Chinese language-speaking democracy, is making ready to elect a brand new president this weekend. That is solely the eighth democratic presidential election within the fashionable historical past of the island, so the Taiwanese individuals care about the appropriate to vote.
The marketing campaign demonstrations are virtually theatrical. Musicians are sometimes employed to attain candidates' stump speeches in actual time, as a result of after they attain significantly emotional moments, the music swells to accentuate the viewers's reactions.
In lots of instances, the musician is an important particular person within the demonstration – in addition to the candidates, after all – for a easy purpose: they supply emotion.
In a rally for the Kuomintang (KMT) social gathering, 1000’s of individuals collect in Dajia Riverside Park to cheer on candidate Hou Yu-ih. The environment is loud and raucous, and the group is a sea of KMT flags.
KMT supporters at a rally in Taoyuan, Taiwan.
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KMT supporters at a rally in Taoyuan, Taiwan.
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Supporters present vitality to KMT demonstrations.
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Supporters present vitality to KMT demonstrations.
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One of many smallest supporters seen at a rally for KMT presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih.
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One of many smallest supporters seen at a rally for KMT presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih.
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One lady, who goes by the identify Ji Dong Jie – or “excited sister” in Mandarin – is clearly a fixture on the rally circuit. She is wearing a brilliant crimson pantsuit, sparkly Mylar boas and rhinestone heels. Her big smooth pink hat is adorned with two Taiwanese flags waving within the air as she leads the group in an impromptu dance.
“It's all DIY,” he tells NPR in Mandarin, including that he goes to each KMT rally. “I need the KMT to work for peace. I don't need independence for Taiwan. I need relations with the USA to be good, and I need relations with China to be good. We’re all one household.”
Huge flags and massive emotions are displayed in a KMT rally.
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In the meantime, marketing campaign occasions hosted by the rival Democratic Progressive Occasion (DPP) are usually quieter, however no much less festive. The present vice chairman of the DPP, Lai Ching-te (also called William Lai) is working to be the brand new president of the island and is favored to win.
At a re-election rally for a DPP lawmaker named Su Chiao-hui, volunteers don brilliant inexperienced vests and hand out steaming, country-fresh souvenirs. Different candidates take footage with supporters, and present President Tsai Ing-wen even makes an look to indicate her assist.
Voters on the DPP rally sat on stools organized in neat rows, many sporting white baseball caps with Su's identify emblazoned on the entrance.
As a part of their campaigns, legislative and presidential candidates typically journey in caravans via their districts, standing on open truck beds to greet their constituents for hours at a time.
Supporters of DPP lawmaker Su Chiao-hui reveal for her in New Taipei Metropolis.
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Supporters of DPP lawmaker Su Chiao-hui reveal for her in New Taipei Metropolis.
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It’s identified for its pink countryside coloration.
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It’s identified for its pink countryside coloration.
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A sea of white hats bearing Su's identify might be seen in an illustration.
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A sea of white hats bearing Su's identify might be seen in an illustration.
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Utilizing loudspeakers, Su calls out because of the individuals who voted for him, sometimes bursting into tune. His supporters cheered and waved from road corners and doorways, holding flags and giving the 2 thumbs up.
Su says she wears a brilliant pink jacket (her marketing campaign coloration) as a result of it appears to be like good in it and flatters her pores and skin, even when she's not sporting make-up.
Posters of the presidential candidates and their working mates might be seen all over the place in Taipei – certainly, everywhere in the island – on billboards, road lamps and the perimeters of buildings.
The celebratory nature of the marketing campaign in Taiwan doesn’t imply that the individuals of the island don’t take the election severely. As every election approaches, the China subject takes heart stage.
That is solely the eighth democratic presidential election in Taiwan.
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That is solely the eighth democratic presidential election in Taiwan.
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KMT supporters watch a rally in January.
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KMT supporters watch a rally in January.
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Supporters of a DPP demonstration take all the things.
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Supporters of a DPP demonstration take all the things.
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Usually, the DPP and the KMT favor sustaining the established order between Taiwan and China, and each need Taiwan to stay self-governing, though not formally impartial.
Folks on the island are additionally involved about low wages and the rising price of residing. Some imagine that the DPP has not paid sufficient consideration to the economic system within the final eight years of President Tsai's administration.
Many youthful voters really feel disillusioned with each the DPP and the KMT, and have flocked to Ko Wen-Je, a third-party candidate on this 12 months's poll, representing the Taiwan Folks's Occasion, or TPP.
As Taiwanese put together to go to the polls on Saturday, the result — and the island's future — stays to be seen.
