Currently, Taiwan’s local representative elections adopt multi-member districts spanning several townships under the SNTV (Single Non-Transferable Vote) system. While this system’s low vote threshold for winning seats provides opportunities for independents and newcomers and embodies minority representation, it also allows local factions, business interests, and criminal organizations to intervene more easily. This leads to issues such as lobbying for special interests, collusion between officials and businesses, corruption, bid-rigging, and vote-buying mobilized through personal networks and money. Without relying on political parties to assume collective responsibility, many local businesspeople and criminal figures run as independents, weakening party accountability and oversight.
To address these problems in local electoral systems, Taiwan might consider reforms similar to those adopted in the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark—introducing a proportional representation component into local elections. This would enable parties to aggregate a consistent share of policy support across an entire jurisdiction and convert that support into seats, reducing dependence on long-established local personal and patronage networks. Such reforms could strengthen political accountability and help establish a new model of local politics focused on choosing a party, choosing policies, and choosing responsibility.
This forum will invite academics and party representatives to discuss challenges in Taiwan’s local political system and explore possible reform recommendations to help improve Taiwan’s system of local government.
Date: Saturday, June 29, 2024
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Room 713, 7th Floor, College of Social Sciences, National Taiwan University
Moderator:
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Chao Yung-Mau (President, Taiwan Association for Local Governance Studies; Emeritus Professor, Department of Political Science, NTU)
Keynote Speakers:
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Su Huan-Chih (Former Tainan County Magistrate)
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Lai Chung-Chiang (Convener, Economic Democracy Union Think Tank)
Discussants:
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Chang Chi-Lu (Distinguished Professor, Department of Political Economy, National Sun Yat-sen University; Former Legislator)
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Ho Chih-Yung (Adjunct Assistant Professor, General Education Center, National Tsing Hua University)
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Shen Su-Cheng (Nantou County Councilor, Democratic Progressive Party)
Organizers:
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Graduate Institute of Public Affairs, National Taiwan University
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Taiwan Association for Local Governance Studies
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Chinese Association of Government and Public Affairs
We warmly welcome anyone interested in party politics or public policy talent development to join us for discussion and exchange!