Taiwan will hold local elections at the end of 2026. On Wednesday, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) proposed the establishment of the 2026 Election Strategy Committee. President Lai Ching-te, who also serves as party chairman, said this election is crucial for the DPP's governance direction as well as Taiwan's future. He hopes to find the best and most suitable candidates to fully secure victory.
According to combined reports from the Liberty Times and United Daily News, the DPP Central Standing Committee proposed on the 3rd to establish the Election Strategy Committee, co-chaired by Presidential Advisor Chiou I-jen and DPP Secretary-General Hsu Kuo-yung. Members include legislators Wang Ting-yu, Chang Hung-lu, Chuang Jui-hsiung, Chen Pei-yu, DPP Central Standing Committee member Chen Mao-sung, Central Executive Committee members Lin Yi-bang and Liu Wei-chun, among nine people. The committee will be responsible for candidate nominations for the local elections next year.
At the DPP Central Standing Committee meeting, Lai Ching-te said next year's local elections are crucial for both the DPP's governance direction and Taiwan's future development. There is only one purpose for establishing the election committee: for the whole party to be united, to work for the party, for the local regions, for Taiwan, and for all the people by finding the best and most suitable candidates, winning the trust of the people, and striving to win the local elections.
Lai Ching-te said there will surely be competition in the nomination and selection process, and he made two reminders. First, during the nomination process, it is strictly forbidden to engage in mutual attacks or behaviors that damage the DPP's image or affect fair competition. Second, during the nomination process, all actions must comply with the DPP's "Regulations on the Nomination of Public Office Candidates" and the government's "Public Officials Election and Recall Act."
According to the report, for the last local elections, the DPP established the 2022 Election Strategy Committee in December 2021, but this year it has started local election preparations even earlier.