KMT Concedes Chiayi County Election to Independent Candidate

Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) party has officially decided to step aside in the upcoming Chiayi County magistrate election, opting to support an independent candidate. The party's standing committee approved the decision, which hinges on the formal declaration of candidacy by Puzi City Mayor Wu Pin-ruei.

KMT officials stated that the county party committee had resolved not to nominate its own candidate and to defer to Wu. The party is awaiting Wu's official announcement before formally ratifying the concession. This strategy is part of an effort to build a broader "opposition alliance" to challenge the ruling party in what is considered a difficult electoral district for the KMT.

Wang Yu-min, a KMT legislator and former party chair, emphasized the need for unity in the challenging Chiayi County race. She noted Wu Pin-ruei's qualifications, highlighting her two terms as mayor, her youth, dedication, and positive performance over the past eight years, which have earned local approval.

Party insiders believe that Wu, who is nearing the end of her second term as mayor, is better positioned to win than a KMT candidate. Given the political landscape where the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) holds a stronger position in Chiayi, consolidating non-partisan and KMT support behind a single candidate is seen as the most viable path to achieving a change in administration. The focus is on securing victory and facilitating a political rotation in the region.