Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) has sought to portray himself as an alternative to Taiwan’s more established leaders, proposing what he calls a “pragmatic” approach to China ties that might attract some younger voters.
While the Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has described the Jan. 13 election as a choice between “democracy or autocracy,” the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has been more open to ties with Beijing, branding itself as the “party of peace” with China.
Ko, a surgeon-turned-Taipei mayor and the main challenger to the two dominant parties, said in a recent interview that he sees himself as a “reasonable, pragmatic” outsider.
Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times
“A great many middle voters, especially young people, cannot stand the blue and green parties anymore,” he said, referring to the leading parties.
“In the past 30 years, the ideologies of [declaring] independence or unification [with China] have divided Taiwan,” he said, adding that he believes many Taiwanese would rather focus on “our real problems.”
Ko pointed to a string of issues, such as water, land and work shortages, but would discuss concrete policies.
His brash rhetorical style has won him some support — especially from younger voters — but critics say he has flip-flopped on issues depending on his audience.
Last month, his outsider image was dented when he entered into a tentative alliance with the KMT.
The unity bid collapsed over a disagreement on who would head the presidential ticket, resulting in a public argument waged in front of Taiwan’s bemused press corps.
Polls see-saw on voters’ approval for Ko — putting him either second or third in a three-horse race, with the DPP in first place — but his rallies appear to pull supporters of all ages, including younger voters who have previously voted for the ruling party.
“I feel like there’s been no change [under the DPP’s administration] and it’s been eight years,” 29-year-old Abby Cheng, who works in sales for a tech company, said at a recent rally.
The Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation branded the rise of Ko’s party “truly phenomenal,” while political scientist Sung Wen-ti (宋文笛) said a strong third party in Taiwan could force a more meaningful policy debate between the two main parties.
“However, that’s not what we have,” Sung said. “No, it’s just about simple, anti-establishment populism ... that lets people let off steam.”
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