TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan People’s Party spokesperson Li You-i (李有宜) announced Sunday she is withdrawing from the party to concentrate on completing her doctoral degree.
Li, who challenged Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Lin Shu-fen (林淑芬) in New Taipei in 2024, has been cultivating support in Luzhou and Sanchong districts, per Newtalk. However, TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) selected former Kinmen County Councilor Chou Hsiao-yun (周曉芸) to lead his legislative office in those districts, prompting speculation about internal favoritism.
The TPP thanked Li for her service. Asked about stepping back from politics, Li said discussions with her academic advisor made clear she has only two years left to finish her dissertation, per UDN. She denied rumors her exit stemmed from party infighting, saying her immediate priority is her degree.
Li added that Luzhou and Sanchong remain close to her heart, whether she returns to politics or not.
Li’s departure resonated across the party. Former TPP Secretary-General Hsieh Li-kung (謝立功) urged the leadership to prioritize talent retention, saying the party must value those who helped build its foundation when resources were scarce, per UDN.
TPP official Tsai Pi-ju (蔡壁如) praised Li’s dedication to Luzhou and Sanchong and noted the party lacks members who remain engaged locally after losing elections, per SETN. She encouraged the TPP to use existing mechanisms to negotiate candidate placements and avoid internal splits.
Local TPP members in council seats also expressed regret. Huang Shou-shih (黃守仕), who is eyeing a run in Xizhi District, said the party has been thrown into disarray by Li’s exit because of her strong grassroots presence, per Tai Sounds.
Responding to speculation that Huang Kuo-chang may back his Xizhi office director, Chen Yu-chieh (陳語倢), for the same seat, Huang Shou-shih argued his deeper local ties give him an advantage. He urged the party to consider local preferences when selecting candidates.
TPP member Wang Hsiao-yu (王孝裕), a candidate for Changhua County Council, called on the party to uphold its founding principles of openness and transparency, per CNews. He criticized the party for concentrating too heavily on northern Taiwan at the expense of central and southern regions.
Wang added that senior TPP figures only visit the south during election season, leaving local members unsupported. He also expressed skepticism about a potential TPP–KMT coalition.
In Taichung, City Councilor Chiang Ho-shu (江和樹) criticized the party for allowing Wu Huang-sheng (吳皇昇), former Taichung Information Bureau chief and a TPP city council hopeful in Beitun District, to join the party’s delegation to Japan. Chiang said the decision disregarded loyal party members and warned the TPP not to become overly Taipei-centric.
