TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Kuomintang Legislator Wang Hung-wei (王鴻薇) on Sunday expressed regret over the Taiwan People’s Party’s decision to retain its two-year term limit for legislators-at-large.

The policy was reaffirmed during the TPP’s Second National Party Congress, which announced that the next eight members on the party list will replace current legislators-at-large after Jan. 31, 2026, per UDN. The system is intended to give less-experienced party members exposure and leadership opportunities.

Wang noted that new legislators would need time to adjust to their roles, stressing the importance of maintaining cross-party cooperation between the KMT and TPP, particularly on legislation such as reconstruction efforts after recent typhoons.

Former Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Kuo Cheng-liang (郭正亮) said TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) acted too hastily, as he believes party founder Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) is likely to be released later this year, per NOWnews.

Another former DPP lawmaker, Shen Fu-hsiung (沈富雄), argued that the original conditions prompting Ko to introduce the rotational system no longer apply, per NOWnews. He questioned whether outgoing legislators could be viable local election candidates and whether their replacements could adapt quickly.

Hsu Jui-hsi (徐瑞希), former Public Television Service chair who left the TPP in 2024, strongly criticized the rotational system on Friday, per UP Media. She accused the party of devolving into “voting troops” under the control of Huang and Legislator Huang Shan-shan (黃珊珊), aimed at advancing their political ambitions.

Hsu also accused the TPP of focusing too heavily on northern Taiwan while neglecting grassroots development in central and southern regions. She released a handwritten note, allegedly from Ko, in which he advocated appointing a deputy chair before his detention in September 2024.

A participant at Sunday’s congress told the Liberty Times that support for continuing the two-year term limit outweighed calls for postponement, but claimed Huang did not allow a vote — an unprecedented move for a party chair.

Meanwhile, a KMT insider suggested Huang’s willingness to step down from his legislative seat could signal a bid for New Taipei City mayor. The source speculated the TPP might demand the KMT cede the mayoralty and four legislative seats in future negotiations.