SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean President Park Geun-hye’s conservative ruling party and its liberal rival split key races in local elections that analysts say ended in a tie amid rising public indignation over the government’s handling of April’s deadly ferry sinking.

With nearly all votes counted Thursday morning, candidates affiliated with Park’s Saenuri Party won eight of 17 important mayoral and provincial governor races, while opposition candidates took the other nine. The local posts are often springboards for future national leaders.