KMT denies tension after TPP's Huang joins New Taipei mayor race

Taipei, Dec. 28 (CNA) Opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairperson Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) on Sunday brushed off the possibility of tensions with the smaller Taiwan People's Party (TPP), one day after TPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) announced he would seek the mayorship of the longtime KMT stronghold.

"The communication between myself and Huang Kuo-chang has been very smooth," Cheng said at an event Sunday, adding that people should not "overinterpret" or "make associations" with regard to the TPP's campaign rally.

"Up to the present, everything related to the progress and atmosphere of blue-white (KMT and TPP) cooperation had been extremely positive and favorable, and has given me deep confidence," Cheng said.

Cheng's comments came after Huang announced that he would run for the position of New Taipei mayor at a rally in Xinzhuang District Saturday, testing the two parties' announcement last month that they would seek "comprehensive collaboration" ahead of Taiwan's 2026 local elections.

In New Taipei, which has been led by the KMT since 2005, incumbent Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) is set to leave office next year after serving two terms.

While the KMT has yet to select a nominee in the race, Deputy Taipei Mayor Lee Shu-chuan (李四川) has been touted as a possible candidate, and earlier this month said he would "certainly" register if primaries are held.

The idea of an alliance between the two opposition parties dates back to Taiwan's 2024 presidential elections, when the KMT and TPP presidential candidates -- Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) and Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) -- came under pressure to run on a joint ticket.

Negotiations on the joint ticket ultimately fell apart at a televised press conference less than two months before the election, as neither candidate was willing to take the vice presidential slot.

The results of the Jan. 13, 2024 election, however, suggested that a joint ticket may have been successful, as Lai Ching-te (賴清德) of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won with 40.05 percent of the votes, but Hou's and Ko's votes combined amounted to around 60 percent, with Hou winning 33.49 percent and Ko taking 26.46 percent.

Despite that failure, the KMT and TPP have frequently joined forces in the Legislature, where they now hold a combined majority of the 113 seats.

In November, Cheng and Huang held a public meeting to discuss possible collaboration in the 2026 elections, with TPP figures saying at the time that they hoped to reach a cooperation agreement in March.

To date, the TPP appears to have held off on naming mayoral or county magistrate candidates in municipalities where the KMT has an incumbent seeking reelection, or has already announced a nominee.

Other than Huang's announcement on Saturday, the party previously announced nominations in Chiayi City, where a KMT mayor is stepping down after two terms, and Yilan, where a civil servant has taken over as acting magistrate after the KMT's Lin Zi-miao (林姿妙) was sentenced to prison for corruption.

In turn, Cheng indicated on Saturday that the KMT would "give priority to incumbents," including in Hsinchu City, where Mayor Kao Hung-an (高虹安) recently returned to office after being acquitted of corruption charges.

Kao was previously a member of the TPP, but had her membership in the party -- as well as her position as mayor -- suspended in July 2024 after she was initially charged with corruption. She has yet to say if she will seek reelection.

Taiwan's next local elections will be held on Nov. 28, 2026.