Taipei mayoral race heats up: DPP names all citizens as campaign chief, president closely monitors

In Taiwan's upcoming local elections, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has unveiled an unconventional campaign strategy for its Taipei mayoral candidate, Shen Po-yang. Instead of appointing a high-profile individual, the campaign has declared all citizens of Taipei as the chief of the campaign headquarters, aiming for a more open and youth-oriented approach.

President Lai Ching-te, who also serves as the DPP party chairman, is demonstrating significant interest in the Taipei mayoral race. He is personally overseeing the campaign's progress, convening expanded electoral meetings with city councilors and support groups. Weekly party, government, and administrative meetings now include a dedicated segment for the Taipei mayoral election, with full support pledged.

Shen Po-yang recently stated his intention to meet with former presidents Tsai Ing-wen and Chen Shui-bian, urging the public to anticipate these developments. He also revealed that his approval ratings are steadily narrowing the gap with the incumbent Mayor Chiang Wan-an. Party insiders suggest that while Chiang has focused on national issues, his local governance record has exposed weaknesses, which Shen's campaign intends to exploit.

The campaign team, led by campaign manager Wu Si-yao, is actively pursuing cross-county collaborations and strategic alliances. A recent event, the "Taipei-New Taipei Lawyers' Support Group Inauguration," brought together legal professionals and candidates from the Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung, and Taoyuan regions. Future plans include joint policy announcements, short video productions, and coordinated campaign efforts to strengthen regional defense capabilities.

Key figures within the campaign structure include deputy chiefs Wu Pei-yi (also head of the Taipei party chapter) and city councilor Wang Shih-chien. Legislators Chen Pei-yu and Fan Yun will lead the policy and publicity groups, respectively. DPP Secretary-General Hsu Kuo-yung will serve as the overall supervisor for the North-Koshi-Keelung election efforts. Wu Si-yao emphasized the team's commitment to fostering a younger, more inclusive campaign environment.