Countdown begins for Taiwan 9-in-1 elections

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwanese citizens will vote for local leaders and council members in 22 cities and counties around the country on Nov. 26 (Sat.). 
But, what's truly at stake for Taiwan's political parties?

Currently, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) holds seven out of the 22 municipalities, and they hope to build on that. The DPP is confident that it can keep four out of the seven cities and counties it currently controls.

The ruling party also holds key cities, like Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and Keelung, but the competition is fiercer because the opposition seeks to expand its reach in northern Taiwan.

Meanwhile, the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) hopes these municipalities could be added onto the 14 areas it already controls to build a successful presidential bid in 2024. In particular, the KMT is placing high hopes on the reelection of New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi and Legislator Chiang Wan-an's bid to claim Taipei City.

Yet, another opposition party founded by incumbent Taipei City Mayor Ko Wen-je is also coming in hot: the Taiwan People's Party (TPP). It has enlisted some promising candidates in several of the 22 races.

One of these key candidates is Vivian Huang, a former TPP member and deputy mayor of Taipei, who is now running for Taipei City Mayor as an independent. As the election day approaches, turnout will be the key to victory. In the 2018 local elections, voter’s turnout was at 66.11%.

As the race nears, candidates from all parties likely wish for a higher turnout this year as voters are expected to sanction or reward the ruling party after two years of living in the pandemic and through economic highs and lows.