What Constitutes Success for the Taiwan People's Party in 2026? Ko Wen-je: If We Fall Below This Council Seat Threshold, We Won't Run in 2028

With the 2026 local elections gradually gaining momentum, the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) have chosen to cooperate in cities and counties such as New Taipei, Yilan, and Chiayi this year. KMT Chairperson Jessica Chen and TPP Chairperson Huang Kuo-chang recently shared the stage for the first time to campaign. But what exactly is the TPP's goal in these local elections? Founding chair Ko Wen-je revealed the answer today (10).

During an afternoon interview on the online program "Political Clarity," Ko Wen-je stated that coalition governance could become part of Taiwan's political culture. However, he emphasized that this issue must be addressed by President Lai Qing-te. Ko argued that if Lai had chosen to cooperate with the TPP upon taking office in 2024, the current political chaos could have been avoided. Not every bill needs to be obstructed; differences can be resolved through discussion or appeasement, gradually introducing a spirit of cooperation into Chinese society. This approach, he said, could work not only domestically but also in cross-strait relations.

Ko noted that the TPP's primary goal in the upcoming local elections is "monetization"—converting the party's strong online presence into concrete local council seats. Host Fan Chi-ming pressed further: What specific seat count would constitute success for the TPP?

Ko responded that after the 2022 elections, the TPP held 14 council seats nationwide. Despite subsequent personnel changes, the number remains around 14 to 15. He acknowledged the need to increase seats as much as possible but admitted the party has faced significant setbacks over the past two years. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), he claimed, has used nearly all national resources to suppress the TPP, causing its polling numbers to steadily decline. His own detention, the constant targeting of Huang Kuo-chang, and overwhelmingly negative media coverage have all contributed to the party's struggles.

Ko believes the DPP's first step is to eliminate the TPP, thereby reverting Taiwan's politics to a blue-green duopoly. Under the current atmosphere, the DPP would almost certainly win. Ko conceded that the TPP cannot become a mainstream political force in the short term. The immediate goal is to boost support to 20%, field one candidate per district, and ensure TPP representatives are present in every county and city council—securing the base before planning further steps.

He also endorsed Huang Kuo-chang's call to "double council seats." With current support hovering between 8% and 14%, the party must strive to convert votes into actual seats. If the TPP still holds only 14 council seats nationwide after the election, Ko bluntly stated, "I don't think we need to run in 2028 either. We'd probably have already peaked."

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