TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) and former Taipei Deputy Mayor Lee Shu-chuan (李四川) have stepped up campaigning as an opposition coalition survey to decide the New Taipei mayoral candidate approaches.
An opposition working group agreed April 15 that polling for candidates in New Taipei City and Yilan County will be conducted between late April and early May, per EDN. In an interview with UDN, Huang said the TPP lags behind the KMT and DPP among voters over 60, but is seeking to expand outreach and mobilize younger voters.
Speaking separately to ETtoday, Huang acknowledged Lee’s administrative experience but argued that he brings a broader international perspective on regional development and innovation. He added that advancing existing KMT transportation policies, such as light rail and metro systems, would present challenges.
Lee’s camp has focused on his decades of civil service and policy track record in Taipei and New Taipei, per SETN. The KMT highlighted his role in projects including the Tamsui light rail system, flood control efforts in New Taipei, and facilitating Nvidia's establishment of its Taipei headquarters.
Huang said the New Taipei poll will include both landline and mobile phone surveys, per Liberty Times. He noted that while limited landline use in Taiwan prompted consideration of mobile polling, such methods may be more difficult to implement in smaller areas like Chiayi and Yilan County. He added that New Taipei’s population of about 4 million makes mobile polling feasible.
New Taipei Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) expressed support for Lee, per China Times. Meanwhile, political commentator Wang Jui-te (王瑞德) urged DPP supporters to back Huang in the survey. Wang argued that it could improve the chances of DPP Legislator Su Chiao-hui (蘇巧慧) in the general election, per FTV.
