With three weeks to go before the presidential and legislative elections, the major parties and their candidates continue to engage in mudslinging rather than policy debate, thereby threatening the nation’s democracy. The issue is of such seriousness that five advocacy groups on Tuesday jointly petitioned candidates to change their focus. While motivating a candidate’s support base, negative campaigning resulted in greater image discrimination against the candidate and greater attitude polarization, she said. On Tuesday, Han lambasted the DPP for mudslinging, but then turned around and made allegations about DPP members and the central government. “There has never been so much mudslinging and negative campaigning for a presidential election,” he said.

Source: Taipei Times December 20, 2019 16:05 UTC