New Party (Taiwan)
The New Party, formerly the Chinese New Party, is a Chinese nationalist political party in Taiwan, affiliated with the pan-blue coalition, and supportive of the unification of Taiwan with Mainland China.History
The New Party was formed on 22 August 1993 out of a split from the then-ruling Kuomintang by members of the New Kuomintang Alliance. Members of the Alliance had accused KMT Chairman Lee Teng-hui of autocratic tendencies and moving the party away from Chinese reunification. Co-founders of the New Party included Chen Kuei-miao. Originally, the party wanted to keep the name of the faction, but was prevented from doing so due to the similarity of names. The name "New Party" was seemingly inspired by the contemporary electoral success of the Japan New Party.
In the mid-1990s, the New Party attracted support from the KMT old guard as well as young urban professionals. The New Party was aided by former Finance Minister Wang Chien-shien and former Environmental Protection Administration Director Jaw Shaw-kong, who had charismatic and clean images.
In the 2000 presidential election, the party nominated writer and dissident Li Ao, who ran a spirited but token campaign. In the election, most members of the party supported former provincial governor James Soong, who ran as an independent candidate after losing the KMT nomination and subsequently expelled by Lee Teng-hui, and in fact both Li Ao and the then New Party chairman Lee Ching-hua encouraged people to do so. In the 2001 Legislative Yuan election, the party only won 1 seat in Kinmen.
In the 2006 municipal elections, the New Party made significant gains, seating over a dozen members into public office. The New Party also gained four seats in Taipei Mayor private offices.
Since the 2008 Legislative Yuan elections, the New Party hasn't won any seats, while the party supported most of the KMT candidates.Election results
Presidential elections
Legislative elections
Local elections
