Ko Wen-je Campaigns in Pingtung, Emphasizing TPP Roots to Expand Southern Influence

Former Taiwan People's Party (TPP) Chairman Ko Wen-je arrived in Pingtung County on the 3rd of this month to personally campaign for the party's local city and township councilor candidates. During a forum with local party cadres, volunteers, and candidates, Ko emphasized that the core purpose of his visit was to "bring the voice of the Taiwan People's Party to the grassroots," while urging local voters to provide more substantive support to the emerging political party. As Pingtung is a crucial electoral battleground in southern Taiwan, Ko's visit coincides with the final sprint before nationwide local elections, demonstrating the TPP's determination to expand its influence in the south.

Founded in 2019 by former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, the TPP initially centered its core philosophy on "technology, transparency, and participation," rapidly gathering supporters through social media platforms and online forums, which led outsiders to dub it an "internet party." In the 2020 legislative elections, the TPP made a breakthrough by winning several at-large legislative seats, demonstrating its appeal among young voters. However, outside the Legislative Yuan, the party's seats in county and city councils as well as township assemblies remain relatively limited. The lack of a solid local organization and grassroots service experience has become the primary basis for outside criticism that it "lacks a physical foundation."

At the campaign event, Ko explicitly pointed out that "the Taiwan People's Party cannot forever remain an internet party." He stated that the party must have actual elected representatives at the local level to implement policy proposals in communities and build trust in voters' daily lives. Historically, any political party that relies solely on internet momentum often struggles to survive long-term within the electoral system. In contrast, party chapters with county and city councilors as well as township representatives can accumulate tangible voter identification through concrete actions such as council questioning, budget reviews, and local infrastructure development. Ko's remarks essentially serve as a directive for internal structural adjustments within the party, urging party branches at all levels to accelerate the cultivation of local talent and enhance organizational cohesion and governance capabilities.

Local candidates in Pingtung reacted enthusiastically to Ko's visit, with some noting that Ko's endorsement not only provides an image boost but also brings resources and strategic assistance. The local party branch also seized this opportunity to hold policy briefing sessions, explaining the TPP's concrete proposals on issues such as agriculture, tourism, and public infrastructure to voters, hoping to win the support of swing voters with pragmatic policy platforms. Meanwhile, the local factions of the traditional blue and green major parties are closely monitoring the TPP's movements, and some opposition factions have already begun deploying countermeasures to prevent the emerging force from disrupting the constituency.

Looking ahead, if Ko Wen-je's appeal can be translated into actual grassroots deployment, the TPP may secure a broader voter base in future legislative and presidential elections. If it successfully establishes a solid network of local elected representatives, the TPP will no longer be merely synonymous with "internet buzz," but will be able to exert more concrete influence on policy-making and administrative oversight. This move may also prompt a new round of diversified competition in Taiwan's political ecology, which holds positive significance for enhancing political participation and policy innovation. (Source: Central News Agency)