TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — DPP Legislators Lin Chun-hsien (林俊憲) and Chen Ting-fei (陳亭妃) are locked in a high-stakes primary battle for the party’s nomination in the upcoming Tainan mayoral race.
President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Thursday confirmed the party’s primary contests in Tainan and Kaohsiung, putting Lin, a close ally, on a collision course with Chen, a longtime local political figure, per CNA. It sets the stage for a clash between factional influence and grassroots strength.
Lin, widely seen as a political disciple of Lai, has strong backing from the DPP’s internal factions and won reelection by a wide margin in the 2024 general election, per Tai Sounds. He was also one of the first to support a DPP-led recall campaign targeting KMT lawmakers, an effort initiated by DPP caucus convener Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘), per CM Media.
Critics say Lin is risking voter alienation by leaning too heavily into factional politics. However, his active role in the recall movement has helped boost his grassroots outreach, an area where Chen has long held the advantage.
Chen, while lacking unanimous support from fellow DPP lawmakers in Tainan, maintains a strong local presence. Recent polling shows her leading Lin and a TVBS poll suggests she may be the only DPP candidate capable of defeating the eventual KMT contender, Tainan KMT Chair Hsieh Lung-chieh (謝龍介).
However, some DPP supporters have questioned the credibility of the polls, hinting at possible manipulation by the KMT, per UP Media. Local DPP insiders claim KMT city councilors in Tainan may be subtly supporting Chen to influence the primary.
They allege that Chen’s controversial background could make her a more favorable opponent in the general election, or a more accommodating mayor for the KMT. Sources within the DPP also pointed to Chen’s recent shift toward a less confrontational stance against the KMT as a strategic move to attract cross-party backing.
In an interview, DPP Legislator and Tainan party Chair Kuo Kuo-wen (郭國文) warned that a Lin defeat could be used by the KMT to politically embarrass Lai, who served as Tainan mayor before being appointed premier by then-President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).
Kuo also blamed Hsieh for losing grassroots support, accusing him of incompetence. Last year, Kuo criticized Chen for what he saw as repeated and self-promotional site inspections, a claim local DPP city councilors deny, per UDN.
The ongoing primary has had some unintended consequences. Multiple reports have emerged of politicians conducting overlapping visits to disaster-hit areas in Tainan.
With current Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-chi (黃偉哲) winning reelection by only 5%, a narrower margin than in past cycles, party insiders worry that deepening internal divisions could cost the DPP the city in the next election, per ETtoday.
As the primary heats up, the outcome may not only determine the party’s next mayoral candidate but also reveal whether Tainan’s DPP factions will coalesce or crack under pressure.
