Former lawmaker and musician Freddy Lim (林昶佐) has been tapped to serve as Taiwan’s next representative to Finland, a source familiar with the matter said yesterday.
Asked for confirmation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment, saying that official personnel appointments are the prerogative of the Presidential Office.
Lim, the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Chthonic, cofounded the New Power Party in 2015 and was elected to the Legislative Yuan in 2016.
Photo: Taipei Times
He left the party in August 2019 and was re-elected as an independent in 2020. In late 2023, he joined the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Lim did not contest the legislative election last year, and his seat was won by Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) of the DPP.
He previously served as chair of Amnesty International Taiwan from 2010 to 2014.
The source said President William Lai (賴清德) places a strong emphasis on “values-based diplomacy,” while Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) has been promoting “cultural diplomacy” and deepening relations with Europe.
Lim’s appointment is expected to inject new momentum into Taiwan’s diplomatic outreach and foster diverse connections with European partners, the source added.
Finland is a mature democracy in Northern Europe, known for its resilient civil society, comprehensive social welfare system, and commitment to human rights and international justice, they said.
It is also famous for its heavy metal music scene — a cultural connection that would be a good match with Lim’s background in public affairs and music, they added.
Asked for comment, Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wang Ting-yu (王定宇) said that if the appointment is confirmed, it would be a very good arrangement, citing Lim’s previous experience on the Legislative Yuan’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee and his familiarity with Taiwan’s diplomatic affairs.
With Lim’s popularity in the rock music industry and strong foreign language skills, he is well-positioned to showcase Taiwan’s diverse, free and open democratic culture on the international stage, Wang said.
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