30 Years in the Making: Changhua County Green Party Seats Fluctuate, Aiming to Break '17-Seat Ceiling' This Year

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Taiwan's Changhua County is gearing up for a significant electoral challenge, aiming to surpass its historical peak of 17 seats in the upcoming county council elections. The party has steadily increased its representation over three decades, starting with just 4 seats in the 13th term (1994-1998) and reaching a current high of 17 seats in the 20th term.

Despite this growth, the DPP has consistently faced an uphill battle, with the Kuomintang (KMT) often maintaining a majority in the county council. No DPP member has ever secured the positions of speaker or deputy speaker. For the upcoming election, the DPP has nominated 22 candidates across the county's 10 electoral districts, which will elect a total of 55 councilors. While the nominated candidates do not yet constitute a majority, the party's internal goal is to exceed 20 seats and expand its influence.

Party insiders suggest the DPP's electoral performance is closely tied to the success of its gubernatorial candidates. The party saw a significant jump in seats from 4 to 11 in the 15th term, coinciding with the election of an DPP county magistrate. Representation reached a new high of 17 seats during the KMT's tenure in the 17th term and was maintained at that peak during the DPP's governorship in the 18th term. Even with the KMT regaining the governorship in the current term, the DPP managed to return to its historical high of 17 seats.

The DPP's strategy for the upcoming election involves a "mother hen leading chicks" approach, with gubernatorial candidate Chen Su-yue leading the charge to break the "17-seat ceiling" and achieve greater supervisory and balancing power within the council. The party hopes this renewed strength will allow for more substantial oversight and checks on the executive branch.