TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — TPP Legislator Chang Chi-kai (張啓楷) highlighted the importance of coordinating with the KMT to put forward a candidate for Chiayi mayor to have a better chance of winning the election, CNA reported.
In December, the TPP nominated Chang as its mayoral candidate. His platform includes free school lunches for elementary and junior high students, as well as full National Health Insurance premium subsidies for residents aged 65 and older. Former TPP Chair Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) said that he would serve as Chang’s campaign director.
Chang hopes the TPP and the KMT can agree on a suitable candidate by March, adding that opinion polls could be used, if necessary, to decide the nominee between him and interested KMT contenders.
On Sunday, Ko and Chang visited KMT Chiayi City Councilor Chen Chia-ping (陳家平), who withdrew from the KMT’s mayoral primary earlier this month. Chen stressed the importance of combining forces with the TPP to win the election and said he would support whichever candidate the two parties nominate.
Chang said that KMT-TPP cooperation in Chiayi could encourage the two parties to field joint candidates in other areas. He noted that, based on the 2024 presidential election and party vote results in the city, the combined support for the KMT and TPP would exceed that of the DPP.
KMT incumbent Chiayi Mayor Huang Min-hui (黃敏惠) is nearing the end of her term. Contenders for the party’s mayoral primary include City Councilor Cheng Kuang-hung (鄭光宏) and cardiologist Weng Shou-liang (翁壽良), who served as Ko’s campaign director in Chiayi during his presidential bid before later joining the KMT.
Chang, who also directs the TPP’s Chiayi chapter, said that he has discussed a candidate for Chiayi County magistrate with the KMT. He added the TPP plans to nominate city and county council candidates in Chiayi, Shuishang Township, and Taibao City, with the number of nominees to be coordinated with the KMT.
The DPP will field Legislator Wang Mei-hui (王美惠) as its candidate for Chiayi mayor. Contenders for the party’s Chiayi County magistrate primary include Legislator Tsai Yi-yu (蔡易餘) and County Councilor Huang Rong-li (黃榮利).
