DPP to take dual-track development strategy: Chair

The DPP has decided not to hold a primary to select its nominees and has empowered the party's leadership to make the choices.

The DPP's nomination process will be based on the guidelines issued by chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen, under which the nominees must be strong enough to win, have a good public image and are true to the DPP's values, according to the party's deputy secretary general Hung Yao-fu.

In principle, the party will field a candidate in each of the 23 counties and cities covered by the elections, while the nominees in 11 localities have already been selected, Hung said.

Among the localities where a candidate has not yet been selected are Taipei County, Tainan County and Chiayi County — areas in which the races are expected to be highly competitive.

In Tainan County, former magistrate and former Presidential Office Secretary-General Chen Tan-sun, 74, tops other DPP politicians in terms of support rating, but there are differences within the party over whether he should run again in light of his high age, the officials said.

In Chiayi County, incumbent magistrate Chen Ming-wen is strongly opposed to a bid by his wife, Liao Su-hui, to compete in the next election, the officials said, adding that the situation has greatly increased the odds of Legislator Chang Hwa-kuan winning the party's nomination.

On the other hand, the KMT will move to field “suitable” candidates who stand out in terms of integrity, public image and service to local residents, especially in southern counties and cities where the DPP usually has an upper hand

In particular, Yunlin and Kaohsiung counties are considered the two southern localities where the KMT has the best chances of ousting the DPP incumbents.

In Yunlin County, a member of the influential family of former magistrate Chang Jung-wei is likely to represent the KMT in the upcoming election — a choice that could pose a threat to the DPP as its advantage in the county is not overwhelming, KMT officials said.

In Kaohsiung County, Kaohsiung County Council speaker Hsu Fu-sen will emerge as a strong challenger thanks to his friendly relations with major political factions in the county, the officials said.

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