TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) – Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou said Tuesday that he is stepping down as chairman of the ruling Nationalist Party following stinging defeats in local elections over the weekend that cast a shadow over his pro-China policies.
A statement issued by the Nationalists in Ma’s name said he holds himself responsible for the wave of losses in municipal races Saturday and considers it time to pass the torch after nine years as chairman.
“Over the last 120 years, the Nationalist Party has encountered countless failures, but has never been categorically defeated and each time we pick ourselves back up again,” Ma said in the statement. “Let us take today’s loss and turn it into a new victorious beginning.”
Ma said he would formally tender his resignation at Wednesday’s meeting of the party’s Central Standing Committee. He is halfway through his second and final four-year term as president.
The Nationalists lost nine city and county elections on Saturday, including in longtime strongholds Taipei, the capital, and the major central city of Taichung. The main opposition Democratic Progressive Party picked up seven of those seats, with independents winning two others.