TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The DPP is expected to nominate Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋) as its candidate for the Taipei mayoral election in November.
The party will hold a press conference Wednesday to announce its decision, CNA reported. The nomination is expected to be formally passed during the party’s Central Executive Committee meeting earlier in the afternoon.
President and DPP Chair Lai Ching-te (賴清德) will officially announce Shen’s candidacy and personally present him with a campaign sash. Shen will run against incumbent Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安).
Other potential DPP candidates for Taipei mayor included Forward Alliance founder Enoch Wu (吳怡農), Legislator Fan Yun (范雲), and Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君). Cheng was widely discussed as a strong contender but reportedly had little interest in running and is currently focused on overseeing Taiwan-US tariff negotiations.
Shen is a vocal critic of the Chinese Communist Party and has warned that China’s threats against the global democratic community are increasing in their intensity and variety of methods. In October, China’s Chongqing Municipal Public Security Bureau accused him of participating in activities that undermine national unity by establishing Kuma Academy, which it called a “separatist organization.” Shen brushed off the investigation, saying, “Taiwanese people aren’t afraid anyway.”
In 2024, China labeled Shen a die-hard Taiwan independence activist, along with United Microelectronics Corp. founder Robert Tsao (曹興誠), former Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴).
