Huang Kuo-chang Accused of Autocratic Leadership and Shifting Alliances by Journalist

Veteran journalist Huang Kuang-ching has launched a series of accusations against Taiwan People's Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang, alleging a pattern of shifting political allegiances and autocratic leadership. Huang Kuang-ching's recent social media posts detail what she describes as Huang Kuo-chang's history of maneuvering within political parties, drawing parallels between the current situation in the Taiwan People's Party and the New Power Party's experiences under his previous leadership.

According to Huang Kuang-ching, Huang Kuo-chang allegedly attempted to form an alliance with Lai Ching-te during the 2019 presidential primary, a move that starkly contrasts with his current adversarial stance towards Lai. The article suggests that Huang Kuo-chang has a history of strained relations with President Tsai Ing-wen, stemming from disagreements after the 2018 legislative revisions.

The journalist criticizes Huang Kuo-chang's leadership style, comparing the recent wave of 14 members leaving the Taiwan People's Party to the 2019 exodus of 12 members from the New Power Party. Huang Kuang-ching attributes these departures to Huang Kuo-chang's alleged "autocratic and arbitrary" decision-making, which she claims leaves members with no channel for communication, forcing them to speak out publicly or leave.

The article further details past disputes within the New Power Party, including disagreements over cooperating with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) or supporting Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je. Huang Kuang-ching alleges that Huang Kuo-chang often made decisions unilaterally, sometimes becoming angry and banging tables during meetings, leading to significant internal conflict and the eventual departure of key figures like Freddy Lim and Hung Tzu-yung.

Huang Kuang-ching questions the institutional integrity of the Taiwan People's Party under Huang Kuo-chang's leadership, citing instances where favored individuals were allegedly placed in winnable districts despite primary losses. She concludes that despite leading different parties, Huang Kuo-chang's methods remain consistent: consolidating power, focusing on electability, closing communication channels, and making decisions in a centralized manner, leading to internal dissent and party fragmentation.