The five-day registration period for the legislative elections came to a close yesterday, with several last-minute entries throwing their hats into the ring.
Among them was former DPP spokeswoman Sisy Chen (陳文茜), who plans to make a bid for the Taipei City II seat as an independent.
PHOTO: CHU YU-PING, TAIPEI TIMES
Chen, a popular political TV show host who quit the DPP a few years ago, said she couldn't make up her mind on whether to run until the last minute.
"To run for legislator is the hardest and most ridiculous decision I've ever made in my life," Chen said. "I made the decision and then changed my mind -- back and forth like this over a dozen times."
Chen vowed to serve just one term and promised not to join any political party after getting elected.
In addition, she said she would donate her monthly legislative salary -- which is roughly NT$210,000 -- to charitable causes.
Another surprise candidate was four-term KMT lawmaker Lin Jih-jia (林志嘉), who earlier this year said he had quit politics.
Lin plans to vie for the Taipei County II seat as an independent.
Lin said he changed his mind because his supporters want him to continue fighting for the rights of children.
"The promises that I've made to improve children's welfare is what I'm concerned about," the lawmaker, who is also the chairman of the Child Welfare League Foundation, said. "It's irresponsible for me to quit politics just like this."
Lin was accompanied by scores of supporters from various children's rights groups when making his announcement yesterday.
The lawmaker had originally planned to run for Taipei County commissioner, but gave up the bid after losing to the New Party's Wang Chien-shien (
After the poll, a depressed Lin said he would not seek any other public office and would quit politics -- temporarily or for good.
Despite Lin's wide base of support from children's rights groups, the KMT is expected to expel the lawmaker for running in a legislative race without the party's nomination.
Chao Shou-po (
Lin's participation in the race will likely draw away votes from his KMT colleagues.
This year's legislative races could be the most competitive ever. In some constituencies, there are twice as many candidates as available seats, and in others the number of hopefuls are three times the number of open seats.
According to the Central Election Commission, 458 candidates have registered to run for 176 available seats in 29 geographic constituencies and two aboriginal constituencies.
A total of 225 seats are up for grabs in the polls set for Dec. 1.
Another eight seats for Chinese citizens residing abroad and 41 seats for legislator-at-large are to be filled through proportional representation.
These two categories of seats will be allocated to political parties according to their share of the vote in the geographic elections.
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