January’s Shilin-Datong city councilor by-election has major 2020 presidential implications for Ko-P and Taiwan’s ‘White Force.’

The News Lens
Date: 2018/12/26

Credit: Reuters / TPG

In Taiwan’s nine-in-one regional elections, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was overwhelmingly defeated throughout the country, including in Taipei. Even though they did their best to shut out Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), he still went on to pip his opponents to the post.

After his victory, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) made a personal visit to congratulate Ko, but by that time he had long since decided to break away from the DPP. Will Ko Wen-je look to challenge Tsai for the presidency in 2020, or will he continue to build his legacy in Taipei?

It all starts with the upcoming by-election for the vacant Taipei Shilin-Datong District Legislative Yuan seat, set to be held in January 2019 to fill the seat of failed DPP Taipei mayoral candidate Pasuya Yao (姚文智). It looks to be a close battle between the DPP’s Mark Ho Chih-wei (何志偉) and the Ko-backed “White Force” independent Chen Su-yu (陳思宇). It will also tell us a lot about the future of Ko’s independent coalition and hint at his strength as a potential 2020 presidential candidate.
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