TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The DPP may attempt to remove its legislative caucus convener Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) through a petition circulated among party factions.
DPP Secretary-General Hsu Kuo-yung (徐國勇) convened an inter-faction meeting on Wednesday and submitted a petition for participants to take back to their factions for further discussion, per UP Media. The petition calls for all officials within the DPP legislative caucus to step down, per Liberty Times.
With caucus Deputy Secretary-General Wang Yi-chuan (王義川) resigning on Wednesday, Ker is now the only remaining caucus official, per UDN. Party insiders told UDN that Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Meng-an (潘孟安) has been tasked with persuading Ker to resign.
Representatives from the New Tide, Taiwan Forward, Taiwan Normal Country Promotion Association (TNCPA), former Premier Su Tseng-chang’s (蘇貞昌) faction, and the Green Fellowship Association attended the meeting. Former President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) faction did not participate.
Following the resignations of all other caucus officials, party leadership lost direct contact with the caucus and is now relying on factions to pressure Ker. However, insiders noted that party factions wield little influence over their members beyond primary nominations.
Some members were reportedly shocked upon seeing the petition. Some legislators aligned with New Tide reportedly said they would refuse to sign it. When asked about the petition by UP Media, unaffiliated legislators expressed confusion, while those involved in factional politics voiced displeasure, saying caucus leadership should be decided internally and not dictated by factional meetings.
Legislator Chang Hung-lu (張宏陸) attended on behalf of Su’s faction, which is broadly known to support Ker. Members of Su’s faction noted that when the executive and Ker clashed in the past, DPP leadership typically sought to persuade Ker first to bring the rest of the caucus in line.
A DPP legislator from southern Taiwan said the episode highlights how internal communication has deteriorated under President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) leadership. The lawmaker said they were shocked by the party leadership’s attempt to force Ker out.
Factions are now sounding out one another’s position on Ker’s future. Legislator Lin Tai-hua (林岱樺), a TNCPA member and Kaohsiung mayoral primary candidate, urged the party to reflect on its collective shortcomings instead of blaming Ker alone, per Newtalk.
Legislator Lai Jui-lung (賴瑞隆), a New Tide member and fellow Kaohsiung primary contender, expressed strong support for re-electing the entire caucus leadership. Former Legislator Cheng Yun-peng (鄭運鵬), also from New Tide, stressed that the higher-ups have no authority over replacing the caucus convener.
A legislator from Tsai’s faction emphasized that, because no members of their faction attended the meeting, they were unaware of the petition and did not sign it.
Ker responded by saying anyone who wishes to run for caucus convener can register in February 2026. He warned against continued infighting over his removal.
