Politics

Political Blocs Ramp Up Election Fever with Campaign Stops in Major Cities

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By Fuhua Hung/John Van Trieste

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With just weeks until local elections, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and the opposition KMT-Taiwan People's Party Alliance are stepping up campaign events in major cities, some with high-profile political figures.

Some of Taiwan’s biggest political heavyweights arrive to cheers in Kaohsiung, the largest city in Taiwan’s south. It’s less than two months to local elections—which always have the potential to reshape the political landscape and serve as a prelude to the next presidential vote. And Kaohsiung has a mayor to choose.

In one corner, President Lai Ching-te has come to back his ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s candidate, Lai Jui-lung.

In the other is Ko Wen-je, founder of the opposition Taiwan People’s Party and a major figure in opposition politics. His party isn’t fielding a candidate in this election, but he’s keen to help the other opposition party, the Kuomintang. Their candidate, Ko Chih-en seems interested in an alliance.

KO CHIH-EN, KAOHSIUNG MAYORAL CANDIDATE (KMT):
"[The two parties] must be united and take out this new wave. I think going forward we will be more direct in strategy."

But the ruling party candidate casts doubt on the idea he’ll be taken out easily by this alliance of Ko’s — Ko Wen-che and Ko Chih-en.

LAI JUI-LUNG, KAOHSIUNG MAYORAL CANDIDATE (DPP):
"The pair of Ko’s don’t understand Kaohsiung’s heart. What Kaohsiung cares the most about is whether it can keep going and how. It’s not about who can fight better or how to fight."

But as the big names travel south for campaign stops, the battle for mayor of the capital, Taipei, grows more intense. Here, the issue of drugs has become a touchpoint.

CHIANG WAN-AN, INCUMBENT TAIPEI MAYOR (KMT):
"I’m very shocked to hear lawmaker Puma Shen’s comparing drugs to medications and even saying taking drugs is like enjoying [collecting] model toys. Those are two things you simply can’t compare."

PUMA SHEN, TAIPIEI MAYORAL CANDIDATE (DPP):
"It’s really important how we manage the risks [of drugs] Yesterday, we kept emphasizing how do we keep school campuses drug-free? How do we stop drugs from getting into schools?"

As election signs and rallies multiply nationwide, voters will have plenty more chances to meet the candidates ahead of the vote in late November—with both sides of the political divide hoping campaign stops like these push the balance in their favor.

Fuhua Hung and John van Trieste for TaiwanPlus.