Yao Close to Receiving DPP Nomination|民進黨選對會 建議徵召姚文智選北市長

A clearer picture of the Taipei mayoral race is emerging. The Democratic Progressive Party's election committee has suggested Legislator Pasuya Yao to be the DPP candidate. Yao says polls show the tide is slowly turning in his direction. Mayor Ko Wen-je responded by saying he is focused on city affairs while Kuomintang candidate Ting Shou-chung said the race will be very difficult.


The Democratic Progressive Party recently announced it will field a candidate for the 2018 Taipei City mayoral election, instead of supporting Mayor Ko Wen-je as it did four years ago. On May 28, the party's Electoral Strategy Committee proposed fielding Legislator Pasuya Yao, saying he has a deep knowledge of the city's politics and is supported by grassroots members.

Pasuya Yao serves Taipei and deeply engages in grassroots activities. He received the support of many of the party's borough chiefs and councilors during our opinion poll.

On the same day, Yao attended a public event with Premier William Lai. In Lai's speech, he wished Yao well. Yao was pleased with this show of support, and said the tide is slowly turning. He added he will do his best to win over city residents if he becomes the party's candidate.

We will communicate the policies and ideas of our vision for the city with voters. I have the utmost confidence of winning the capital and being a part of the DPP's overall victory.

Actually, we are not too optimistic right now, and we need to put in a lot of effort. Pasuya Yao probably won't resort to cheating, but it's difficult to say the same about the DPP's leaders.

Meanwhile, Ko, who is seeking re-election, can draw on municipal resources for his campaign. During a Taipei City Council interpellation, he was asked about his battle with Yao and Kuomintang mayoral candidate Ting Shou-chung. In response, he regurgitated an old line, that he is focusing on municipal affairs.

How many points would you give Ting, and how many points would you give Yao? I'd prefer only to grade myself. Every election should give Taiwan a new administrative style, let's see it that will happen this time.

The DPP's decision to field its own candidate causes a split between the pan-green camp and Ko's "white force," which refers to political novices. City councilors questioned if this will lead to the resignation of Taipei City Deputy Mayor Chen Chin-jun, who is a DPP member. In response, Chen said the "governing alliance" is the best option for Taiwan and he will stay put to work with the "white force."