A veteran lawmaker from Taiwan’s main opposition party has announced he is leaving the Kuomintang (KMT) to run as an independent in an upcoming local election, calling the party’s primary system “humiliating” in a sharply worded statement.
The move by the longtime KMT member, who has not been named in reports, marks a rare public break with the party’s leadership and underscores growing internal tensions ahead of key races. Local elections in Taiwan are widely seen as a bellwether for broader political trends, often shaping the landscape for future national contests.
In a statement released Monday, the lawmaker said the KMT’s primary process had left him feeling “utterly disgraced,” using a phrase that translates to a mix of embarrassment and helplessness in Chinese. “The party’s central leadership has made me feel truly wretched,” he said, without elaborating on specific grievances.
The announcement comes as the KMT scrambles to finalize its slate of candidates for local offices, including city council seats and mayoral races. While the party has historically dominated in many regions, recent polls suggest its grip is slipping amid shifting voter priorities and rising competition from smaller parties.
Separately, reports indicate that two other KMT members—identified as Chuang Ching-sheng and Tsai Chang-hung—failed to register for the party’s nomination process in the northern port city of Keelung. Their absence from the candidate list has fueled speculation about further fractures within the party, though neither has publicly commented on their decision.
The KMT has not issued an official response to the lawmaker’s departure or the registration snags in Keelung. Party officials have previously defended their primary system as fair and transparent, though critics argue it favors established figures over grassroots candidates.
Analysts say the defections could signal deeper discontent within the KMT’s ranks, particularly among veteran members who feel sidelined by the party’s leadership. The developments also highlight the challenges facing the KMT as it seeks to maintain its influence ahead of the next presidential election, expected in 2028.
Taiwan’s local elections are scheduled for later this year, with campaigning expected to intensify in the coming months. The outcome could reshape the political balance in several key municipalities, including Taipei and Taoyuan, where opposition parties have made inroads in recent years.
