TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Former KMT Legislator Chen I-hsin (陳以信) on Monday proposed relocating Taiwan’s administrative center back to Tainan as part of his platform for the city’s 2026 mayoral election.

Chen officially announced his bid for the KMT nomination on Friday, per CNA. His main rival in the race is expected to be KMT Legislator Hsieh Lung-chieh (謝龍介), who chairs the party’s Tainan Chapter.

Chen said that aside from Hsieh’s fluency in Taiwanese, he beats him in ability, age, and experience, per NOWnews. He urged the KMT to hold a primary in Tainan and expand its base of support.

He added that Tainan voters are generally divided into three groups — KMT supporters, DPP supporters, and voters with no party affiliation — emphasizing that winning over the third group is crucial for a KMT victory in 2026.

Chen also highlighted his proposal to return Taiwan’s administrative center to Tainan, noting that President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) had made a similar suggestion in the past.

Hsieh welcomed Chen’s announcement, expressing his willingness to compete in the primary, per Liberty Times. He added that the KMT’s Tainan mayoral race could serve as a counterweight to what he described as the DPP’s “negative press–ridden” primary process.

Chen revealed that the KMT had considered recruiting him as the party’s candidate for the 2022 Tainan mayoral election, but he stepped aside in favor of Hsieh, per UDN. In response, Hsieh said he was unaware of such discussions and urged the party to unite in its effort to challenge the DPP, per Tai Sounds.