DPP chair thanks voters after party takes 13 cities, counties

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Taipei, Nov. 29 (CNA) Tsai Ing-wen, the chairperson of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), thanked voters for giving her party the "best performance" in Saturday's election by helping it to score victories in 13 of the 22 cities and counties up for grabs -- including four out of the six special municipalities.

"This represents trust in the DPP, and each ballot is one mark of responsibility for the party," Tsai said.

She said that the party sees the outcome as a mandate for the party.

"Starting today, the DPP will take the (ruling) Kuomintang's defeat as a lesson," she said: if the government is not"on the side of the people, the people will take back their power."

She called the victory the beginning of historic change and said the direction of the nation will lie with the wisdom of the people, vowing to "win Taiwan back" step by step."

Related stories:●Nov. 29: KMT leader vows to keep reforming, opening path●Nov. 29: Premier resigns as government suffers heavy electoral defeat

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