30th Anniversary of Direct Presidential Election: Tsai Ing-wen Says Democracy Is Not About One Party Ruling Forever, Taiwan's Future Should Be Decided by Its People

The Taipei College of Political Economy Foundation held a symposium titled "Looking Back and Moving Forward: 30 Years of Direct Presidential Election" on September 11. Former President Tsai Ing-wen delivered an opening speech in written form. Tsai stated that true democracy is not about one political party ruling forever. The direct election of the president has established not only an electoral system but also a political responsibility. The power entrusted by the people must be used to respond to their expectations. Taiwan's present and future must be jointly determined by the people of Taiwan.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Taiwan's first direct presidential election. On March 23, 1996, the people of Taiwan directly elected their national leader for the first time through their own votes. That day not only changed the way the president was chosen but also transformed the nature of Taiwan as a nation and the relationship between the people and the state.

From that moment on, the person leading Taiwan was no longer decided by a small group or by a power structure detached from Taiwanese society. Presidential authority must come from the people's ballots; the government's legitimacy must undergo regular public scrutiny. This is the most concrete realization of "sovereignty of the people."

For many young people under 30 today, voting for the president is a natural part of life. During election periods, candidates enter markets, stand on street corners, and respond to questions from media and citizens. People can support or oppose, and through their votes, allow a party to continue governing or demand a change in power. However, we all know that these things, now taken for granted, were once very distant in Taiwan's history.

Taiwan's democracy did not fall from the sky, nor was it a gift unilaterally bestowed by any leader. It is the result of many people pursuing freedom over decades, taking risks, and even sacrificing their lives and freedom.

From liberal intellectuals criticizing authoritarian rule, to the Tangwai movement's persistence in democratic reform, from fighting for freedom of speech, lifting martial law, and opening party and press restrictions, to demanding comprehensive legislative elections, direct elections of local leaders, and direct presidential elections—Taiwanese people have gradually opened up a previously closed political system. Along this path, some wrote articles and founded publications, others organized parties and ran for office, some took to the streets, and many were surveilled, arrested, or imprisoned.

We must not forget the scars left by the February 28 Incident and the White Terror era, nor the power gathered through the Kaohsiung Incident (Meilidao), the Wild Lily student movement, and countless other democratic movements. It was precisely these relentless efforts that led Taiwan to bid farewell to its "eternal legislature," complete comprehensive elections for central representative bodies, and reach the critical milestone of direct presidential elections in 1996.

We must also thank former President Lee Teng-hui for, at a crucial historical moment, responding to Taiwan's societal calls for reform, bearing internal pressures, and advancing constitutional amendments and democratic reforms.

Democratization has never relied on a single individual. It requires continuous pressure from people outside the system and decisive choices by leaders within the system at critical moments. Taiwan's democratization process is precisely the convergence of popular power, social movements, and political reform. Therefore, commemorating the 30th anniversary of direct presidential elections is not merely about reviewing one election or remembering one system. We are commemorating the moment Taiwan's people first fully declared to the world: Taiwan's leaders are chosen by the people living on this land, and Taiwan's future should also be jointly determined by its people.

After the establishment of direct presidential elections, Taiwan's democracy did not stagnate. In 2000, Taiwan completed its first peaceful transfer of power through elections. Since then, Taiwan has experienced multiple party alternations. No matter how intense the electoral competition or how great the differences between parties, after election results are announced, power is transferred according to constitutional procedures, the military remains nationalized, and state institutions continue to function. These may seem ordinary, but they are the most important proof of democratic consolidation.

True democracy is not about one party ruling forever, nor is it about accepting the system only when one's preferred candidate wins. True democracy means believing in the people's right to choose and being willing to respect the people's choices; it means ruling parties understand power has a time limit, and opposition parties believe they can regain public support through fair systems. Thus, what direct presidential elections have established is not just an electoral system, but a political responsibility.

When the president is directly elected by the people, the president must be directly accountable to them. Each vote is both authorization and trust; it grants the ruling party the power to implement policies while reminding them that all power has limits and every decision must be subject to oversight.

During my eight years as president, I often felt this responsibility. In 2016 and 2020, the people of Taiwan entrusted me twice with the responsibility of leading the nation. During the 2020 election, I saw many young people returning from abroad to vote; some couldn't get tickets but found ways to return home; others carefully stamped each ballot, fearing a small mistake would invalidate their vote. At that time, I said: "This is the weight of democracy, this is the taste of freedom."

A single vote may seem light, but it carries the people's expectations for the nation and the rights that earlier generations fought their entire lives to achieve. For those in power, this weight is a constant reminder: the power entrusted by the people must be used to respond to their expectations. Facing challenges such as pension reform, energy transition, defense reform, marriage equality, industrial upgrading, and the pandemic, each policy involves different interests, values, and choices, and may spark intense social debate.

Democratic politics does not make difficult problems disappear automatically. On the contrary, democracy requires the government to bring issues into the open, subjecting them to scrutiny by the legislature, media, civil society, and the people. Rulers must explain, communicate, and make decisions amid diverse opinions, bearing the consequences. The people, in turn, can express support or dissatisfaction through public discussion, social movements, and elections. This process can be slow and not always satisfying.

But the most precious aspect of democracy is that it allows different opinions to be heard, mistakes to be corrected, and power to be peacefully constrained and replaced.

Over the past 30 years, direct presidential elections have gradually shaped a shared political identity in Taiwan. We may come from different ethnic groups, have different historical experiences, support different parties, and hold different views on the nation's name and future. But through repeated national elections, we have participated in the same democratic system and jointly decided who governs this country. The voting process has transformed the people of Taiwan from mere subjects of governance into members of a shared political community. We elect our government with our votes and, through democratic institutions, answer a fundamental question: Who should decide Taiwan's future?

For 30 years, the people of Taiwan have given a clear answer through repeated elections. Taiwan's democracy has also given us a clearer identity in the international community. Today, the world recognizes Taiwan not only for semiconductors, technology industries, or economic achievements, but also for building a society of freedom, democracy, and human rights respect under complex historical conditions and external pressures.

Taiwan has proven that democracy is not the exclusive privilege of a particular culture or region. People in Asia also cherish freedom, pursue dignity, and are capable of resolving differences, completing peaceful transitions of power, and building stable, resilient nations through democratic systems.

However, having gone through democratization does not mean democracy cannot regress. Global experiences remind us that free societies may gradually weaken due to disinformation, extreme polarization, foreign interference, and loss of public trust in institutions. For Taiwan, the challenges to democracy are particularly complex.

We must not only manage internal divisions within a democratic society but also face long-term military pressure, diplomatic suppression, economic coercion, cognitive warfare, and united front infiltration from China. What the other side seeks to undermine is not merely a particular government or party, but the very right of Taiwan's people to determine their own future. Therefore, safeguarding democracy cannot rely solely on elections or be completed only on election day.

Democratic resilience comes from sound institutions, an independent judiciary, professional governance, free and responsible media, and an active civil society; it also comes from the people's willingness to verify information, participate in public affairs, and maintain dialogue even when facing differing opinions.