Taipei mayor criticizes president-elect’s snub of opposition

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) expressed regret on Wednesday (May 15) over President-elect Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) failure to meet with opposition leaders before taking office, breaking a 24-year tradition.

Chiang described the past four months as a "blank period" and emphasized the importance of maintaining good communication between the ruling and opposition parties for the benefit of national governance.

Since his election in mid-January, Lai has not met with opposition party leaders, diverging from a tradition upheld by former Presidents Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), and Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).

Chiang, who embarked on a trip to Tokyo, Japan, on the same day, reiterated the significance of cross-party dialogue during an airport interview. He highlighted that the opposition currently holds a majority in the legislature, representing a significant portion of public opinion.

The focus now shifts to whether opposition leaders will attend Lai's inauguration ceremony on May 20, amid ongoing concerns about the state of cross-party relations.

Chiang's remarks underscore the potential challenges facing Taiwan's new government in fostering a cooperative political environment.

As the inauguration approaches, all eyes will be on the interaction between the incoming administration and opposition figures, signaling the future direction of Taiwan's political landscape.