Economist: Ma Runs against the Economy

The Economist (latest edition) sees  tough months ahead for Taiwan’s president Ma Ying-jeou. The paper emphasizes DPP presidential nominee  Tsai Ing-wen‘s role in “reinventing” the DPP, and her past governmental experience regarding China.  Ma would be running against a Taiwanese economy which, despite booming trade with China, shows stubbornly flat wages and high inequality:

Unlike members of the DPP, Mr Ma is able to talk to China. Increasingly, though, Taiwanese see this as a weakness rather than the strength he hoped for. Perceptions are growing that Mr Ma’s economic policies, including a cross-strait pact on free trade signed last June, benefit large corporations more than ordinary folk.

Both the presidential elections and legislative elections are scheduled for January 14, 2012, pending approval by  the Central Election Commission (CEC).

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