Independent Taipei Councilor Lee Ching-yuan (李慶元) yesterday officially announced his candidacy for the Legislative Yuan, complicating “third force” electoral efforts by turning Taipei’s eighth electoral district into a three-way race.
At a campaign launch surrounded by supporters, Lee promised to push for constitutional reform and to address growing income inequality if elected.
A member of the New Party before joining the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) in 2010, Lee announced his withdrawal from the KMT last month before being officially expelled. He yesterday stated that he would not join any political party if elected, amid rumors that he was considering joining the People First Party.
Lee said he would welcome leaders from any political party to campaign on his behalf, displaying a congratulatory message reading: “The brave fear nothing” sent by Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), also an independent.
Lee has represented Taipei’s Daan (大安) and Wenshan (文山) districts in the city council for 16 years.
He is to stand in Taipei’s eighth electoral district, which encompasses Wenshan as well as parts of Zhongzheng District (中正), facing off against KMT Legislator Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Miao Bo-ya (苗博雅).
The Democratic Progressive Party has not nominated a candidate for the district to allow space for “third force” electoral efforts.
Former Taipei city councilor Yang Shih-chiu (楊實秋), who was also expelled from the KMT last month, has said he also plans to run in next year’s legislative elections, competing for Taipei’s seventh electoral district, encompassing the Songshan (松山) and Xinyi (信義) districts. The SDP has nominated gay rights advocate Lu Hsin-chieh (呂欣潔) for the district, with no candidate nominated by the DPP.
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