Taiwan’s William Lai slides in popularity, plagued by political turmoil

Lai’s disapproval rating is at its highest since he took over as leader six months ago, according to a new public opinion poll

Reading Time:4 minutes

Taiwanese leader William Lai is sliding in public approval across almost all demographic fronts, according to a new opinion poll. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 10:00am, 23 Nov 2024Updated: 6:23pm, 23 Nov 2024

Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te’s popularity has dropped to a new low, weighed down by a wave of social discontent and political turmoil that has amplified public dissatisfaction with his administration.

Lai’s approval rating dropped to 42.8 per cent this month, well down from the 58 per cent recorded in May when he assumed office, according to a survey released on Tuesday by the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation, a Taipei-based pollster.

Adding to his troubles is widespread criticism over his government’s perceived inaction, particularly after the suicide of a government labour official, allegedly due to workplace bullying by a supervisor.

Lai’s drop in public approval just six months into the job translates to a loss of nearly 3 million supporters and a fall in support across almost all demographic groups, in terms of age, education, ethnicity and political affiliation.

His disapproval rating is also up, rising 5.3 percentage points from October to 43 per cent, an overall increase of 17.5 percentage points since May. This equates to an additional 3.4 million people expressing dissatisfaction with Lai, according to the foundation, which has been tracking public opinion on the government’s performance since 2016.

05:06

William Lai sworn in as new Taiwan leader amid pledge to keep status quo across the strait

November’s disapproval rating was also Lai’s highest to date.