Former legislator Chen Po-wei has officially aligned himself with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), a move that has sparked intense speculation regarding his potential candidacy in the 2026 elections and reignited controversy over his response to sexual harassment allegations.
On April 4, 2026, Chen announced via Facebook that he had applied to join the DPP. Still, the timing of his membership has already turn into a point of contention. A DPP official from the Taichung City Party Branch revealed on April 6, 2026, that Chen had actually joined the party last year through an online application, with his party registration and household located in the Beitun District.
This distinction is politically critical. Under DPP regulations, members must typically be affiliated with the party for two years before they are eligible to run for public office. The only exception to this rule is if a candidate is officially recruited by the party’s central leadership, which remains the only viable path for him to secure a nomination for 2026.
Rumors have circulated that Chen may be recruited for a city council seat in Taichung’s North District, following the withdrawal of nominee Wu Wen-hao due to family emergencies. However, the DPP official noted that Chen’s registration is in Beitun, not the North District, leaving his potential candidacy uncertain.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from political opponents. Kuomintang (KMT) Taipei City Councilor Yang Zhi-dou characterized the membership as “100% for the election,” suggesting that the DPP would likely deploy Chen to “difficult” districts. Other KMT figures have sarcastically speculated that Chen might even be positioned to challenge for the Taipei mayoral seat, potentially displacing other green-camp figures like Shen Bo-yang.
Parallel to his political maneuvering, Chen is facing backlash over his handling of sexual harassment accusations. Chen recently issued an apology, which he described as a “social responsibility apology,” stating that he was acting as a public figure responsible for gender equality standards. He explicitly maintained that the apology was not an admission of “malicious allegations.”
This stance has been condemned by critics, including those referred to as “Tiny Grass Goddesses,” who labeled the apology as “secondary harm” to the victims.
The shift in party affiliation marks another chapter in Chen’s volatile political career. A former legislator for Taichung’s second electoral district, Chen made history on October 23, 2021, when he became the first member of the Legislative Yuan to be removed from office via a recall vote. He previously represented the Taiwan Stateadvance Party before exiting the organization on June 30, 2022.
