By KHT Staff
KAOHSIUNG — Opposition parties may move toward cooperation in the 2026 Kaohsiung mayoral race, as Kuomintang (KMT) candidate Ko Chih-en (柯志恩) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) both signaled openness to coordination.
Speaking on Saturday, Ko said cooperation between the KMT and TPP is necessary in major elections, including Kaohsiung’s mayoral contest and future presidential races. She said party leaders from both sides already maintain regular communication and that mechanisms for cooperation could be expanded.
Huang, meanwhile, said opposition unity should be the basic direction in local elections, emphasizing the need to identify the strongest possible candidate. He said the TPP does not rule out direct talks with Ko and is open to discussions on election strategy, city governance, and Kaohsiung’s long-term development.
Huang added that further dialogue would be useful as the opposition considers how best to challenge the Democratic Progressive Party’s expected nominee in 2026.
Ko echoed that view, saying opposition cooperation would not be limited to Kaohsiung and could extend to national-level elections. She also said she hopes former TPP chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) would spend more time in Kaohsiung to better understand local issues and discuss possible cooperation.
No formal agreement or joint campaign plan has been announced.
Source: China Times
