TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — TPP founder Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) urged Sunday Chair Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) and KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) to negotiate opposition cooperation in the Zhubei mayoral race.
After KMT Zhubei mayoral candidate Wu Hsu-chih (吳旭智) officially registered for the race, the TPP began accusing the KMT of going back on its promise to allow TPP Zhubei mayoral candidate Chiu Chen-yuan (邱臣遠) to run on the opposition ticket. Ko called on Cheng and Huang to initiate talks as soon as possible, reminding both leaders to better manage their supporters’ expectations, per CNA.
Ko also called on KMT Hsinchu magistrate candidate Hsu Hsin-ying (徐欣瑩) to address the situation rather than relying on party spokespersons, per UP Media. He noted that when the KMT held its mayoral primary, the registration form already specified that the KMT candidate needed to negotiate with the TPP over a jointly nominated candidate.
Chiu echoed Ko’s demand for Hsu to address the issue, saying that speaking through spokespersons does not adequately convey her sincerity, per UDN. He said the TPP is under immense pressure from its supporters over the situation.
Huang noted that while he has not heard from Cheng or other high-ranking KMT officials, Hsinchu County Magistrate Yang Wen-ke (楊文科) has conveyed his concerns about the development, per NOWNews. He stressed that trust built up through years of cooperation could be destroyed by one wrong move.
Huang also said some KMT lawmakers had phoned him to express support for Chiu. He urged TPP supporters to limit their response to the controversy to Hsinchu County and not affect other areas where KMT officials have kept their promises to the TPP.
Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) urged the two parties to continue cooperating, stressing that the coalition will hold in Taichung, per Liberty Times. Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) urged the parties to continue negotiations to maximize opportunities for cooperation.
The KMT reportedly conducted an internal survey of the Zhubei mayoral race, showing Wu leading Chiu by double digits, per UP Media. However, a TPP internal survey conducted in early August showed Chiu had cut the gap to within the margin of error.
A KMT insider suggested that, since the party has already put forward a mayoral candidate, Chiu would need to compete with Wu in polling to secure the opposition ticket. A local KMT campaign source suggested that limited movement in Chiu’s polling numbers, along with the importance of Zhubei, led the KMT to put forward its own candidate, per UDN.
Soochow University Assistant Professor Chang Yuan-hsiang (張元祥) suggested that the breakdown in cooperation highlighted the two parties’ inability to work together outside official frameworks, per SETN. He argued that if neither party is willing to compromise, the trust built up between the two parties could be damaged.
