Browsing: Lai Jui-lung (賴瑞隆)

A brief meeting between the KMT’s Ko Chih-en and the TPP’s Ko Wen-je is drawing attention amid ongoing speculation over a possible KMT–TPP alignment in Kaohsiung, where the race between Ko and the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Lai Jui-lung (賴瑞隆) will likely narrow despite Lai currently enjoying a large lead in many polls.

Referring to Chen’s impending departure from city hall later this year, the president said Chen would not be able to relax for long and should be mentally prepared, adding that he would likely shoulder additional responsibilities for Taiwan at the central level.

The 2026 Kaohsiung mayoral race heated up on Feb. 3 as DPP candidate Lai Jui-lung and KMT candidate Ko Chih-en traded sharp criticism over stalled budget negotiations, policy substance, and Kaohsiung’s relationship with the central government, with Ko dismissing what she called “inviting Taylor Swift” spectacles in favor of what she described as serious governance.

With the Democratic Progressive Party’s Kaohsiung mayoral primary entering its final stretch, four DPP lawmakers are intensifying outreach efforts.