DPP Seeking to Rezone Taiwan Ahead of Elections 綠拚修法 盼明年中完成新竹縣市合併升格

The DPP caucus whip Ker Chien-ming proposed that Hsinchu city and Hsinchu county be merged into the "Greater Hsinchu." However, not everyone in the party agrees with the change.

The Democratic Progressive Party is attempting to change the status of municipalities ahead of next year's municipal elections, including merging Hsinchu County and Hsinchu City. Under the Local Government Act, cities or counties must have a population of at least 1.25 million and local districts must have special economic or political needs to be upgraded to a special municipality. The two Hsinchus combined have a population of just over one million, so DPP whip Ker Chien-ming is trying to change the "and" between the two conditions to "or." The DPP also wants to merge Changhua City and County, and Yunlin with Chiayi City and Chiayi County for nine total special municipalities.

Ker Chien-ming, DPP Caucus Whip: “The referendum results make it clear the current structure is an enormous challenge to the DPP. This has nothing to do with finding a way for an individual [who has already served two terms] to run for reelection.”

Chen Ming-wen, Legislator (DPP): “The country's administrative districts should be reassessed collectively. I am advocating equal status for counties and cities and equality for all citizens.”
Wang Mei-hui, Legislator (DPP): “Chiayi City would be marginalized after a merger. I oppose a merger 100 percent.”

Although over 30 people have signed the petition, not everyone in the DPP, much fewer opposition parties, agree with the proposal.

Kao Hung-an, Legislator (TPP): “The DPP is trying to fire arrows first and set up targets later by merging Hsinchu County and Hsinchu City.”
Lai Shyh-bao, Legislator (KMT): “Taiwan is so small. Why does it need nine special municipalities? China only has four.”

The DPP will submit the draft to the Legislative Yuan on the 21st at the earliest in the hopes of promulgating the changes by mid-next year.

Chen Tsung-yen, Deputy Interior Minister: “If we want to get the amendments passed before next year's (elections), we have to accelerate the amendment process. The new electoral districts would have to be announced by June 25 next year to apply to the mayor/magistrate and city/county council elections.”

The draft revisions haven't even been submitted yet, but the Ministry of the Interior is already consulting with various groups to accelerate the process.
 

四大公投民進黨全數過關，接下來要備戰2022年縣市長大選，新竹縣市合併升格議題，再次引發討論。依照現行地方制度法規定，成為直轄市的條件，不但人口要達125萬人以上，而且在政經等區域發展上有特殊需要。而新竹縣市總人口只有100多萬，因此，民進黨立法院黨團總召柯建銘提案修法，將「且」改成「或」，不但為大新竹解套，有望升格的還包括彰化縣市合併，以及雲嘉嘉合併。

民進黨立院黨團總召柯建銘表示:「以現在的結構，從公投結果來看，對民進黨來講是一個極大挑戰，絕對沒有因人設事的問題。」

民進黨立委陳明文則說:「我認為全國的行政區劃應該要全面性的做檢討，我的主張很清楚就是縣市平權、國民平等。」

民進黨立委王美惠認為:「不要合併後嘉義市被邊緣化了，我是百分之百的反對。」

雖然提案連署人數已超過30位，但民進黨內仍然有雜音，在野黨更是湧現質疑聲浪。

民眾黨立委高虹安說:「我覺得新竹縣市合併這件事情，目前看起來是民進黨先射箭再畫靶的概念。」國民黨立委賴士葆指出，「台灣這麼小變成九都，中國大陸這麼大才四都而已。」民進黨團最快21日將提案送交立法院程序委員會，若要能趕上2022縣市長選舉，力拚明年中完成修法。

內政部次長陳宗彥指出:「如果要配合明年度的（選舉）時程，必須讓修法時程加快，因為最後完成下屆有關於直轄市市長或是縣市議員的選舉，選區公告的時間在明年6月25日前。」

從推動修法到縣市合併升格計劃，府院似乎已有高度共識，如何修正地方制度法，內政部也將參酌各界意見，加速研議。