TAIPEI (TVBS News) — As Taiwan's 2024 presidential election nears, Taiwan People's Party (TPP) candidate Ko Wen-je, known for his "KP" badge, recently added a national flag to his attire.
This gesture is viewed as an effort to attract Kuomintang (KMT) voters, contrasting with his Dec. 6 claim of being "deep-green at heart," which has sparked debate about his political alignment.
Among the leading candidates from the KMT, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and TPP, Ko enjoys the most support from voters aged 20 to 29. This demographic is keen to shift away from traditional ideology-based politics.
TPP legislative candidate Tsai Pi-ru said local residents prioritize economic issues over political ideology. Chiang Min-chin, a journalism professor, observed that Ko's consistent third-place standing in polls, at around 20%, indicates that his supporters are less concerned with his political beliefs.
Ko's supporters, mainly between 20 and 39, are characterized by their opposition to authoritarianism and established systems, showing indifference to the traditional blue and green political divide.
Experts believe Ko's recent deep-green comments won't significantly alter his support base. Ke Yu-an, former TPP publicity director, linked Ko's deep-green ideology to his family's history with the February 28 incident, noting it's not the first time he's expressed this stance.
Hsu Han-jen, a TPP nursing consultant, highlighted the economic hardships of those earning NT＄30,000 to NT＄40,000 amid rising inflation, stressing the need for new political forces.
Ko, a former ER doctor who became Taipei's mayor in 2014, is seen as an unpredictable candidate. The outcome of the Jan. 13 election will reveal if he can break from Taiwan's traditional blue-green political landscape to attract more voters.
