Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/01/28
By: Liang Pei-chi and Elizabeth Hsu 

Taipei, Jan. 28 (CNA) Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), a physician-turned-independent politician, described the loss of the candidate he backed in a legislative by-election in Taipei Sunday as part of life, but admitted difficulty in soliciting grassroots support without being affiliated with any political party.

Ko-backed Chen Su-yu (陳思宇) finished a distant third in the by-election, in which five candidates were vying for the legislative seat left vacant by Yao Wen-chih (姚文智) of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), who resigned as lawmaker during his unsuccessful bid for Taipei mayor last November.

While the race was widely regarded as Ko testing the water for the presidential election in 2020, the popular mayor told the press on Monday that “no matter if it is a success or failure, it’s nothing but part of life,” after being asked about the election results.

What’s different is that “one has to write more review reports on a defeat than a success,” said Ko. As for the results, he added, “I see that it’s pretty much the same as indicated by public polls before the election.”    [FULL  STORY]