Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te is grappling with his steepest decline in public support since taking office nearly 15 months ago, indicating challenges for his ruling party in next year’s local elections and the 2028 Taiwan leadership race.
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Three major surveys – the latest released on Tuesday – showed continued sharp drops in approval for Lai, signalling trouble even in Tainan, his southern hometown and power base.
The numbers reflect widespread dissatisfaction over Lai’s handling of the mass recall votes targeting opposition lawmakers, the response to Typhoon Danas, which caused severe flooding in southern Taiwan last month, and mounting economic concerns linked to new US tariffs.
The Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation (TPOF), TVBS cable news network and online news outlet My Formosa all reported approval ratings for the Lai administration in the low 30s or below, while disapproval hit the mid-50s.
Trust levels hovered around the mid-30s, while pessimism over Lai’s remaining three years in office was widespread.
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The TPOF poll released on Tuesday found just 33.3 per cent of respondents approved of Lai’s handling of Taiwanese affairs, compared with 54.4 per cent who disapproved. Even in Tainan, Lai’s hometown and political stronghold, approval was at 36 per cent while disapproval ratings reached 43 per cent.