KMT, DPP candidates exchange barbs as election campaigning for Taipei mayor heats up
The municipal elections are just over four months away but already in Taipei the gloves are off. The KMT’’s mayoral candidate Chiang Wan-an alleged that the DPP’’s candidate Chen Shih-chung, who just resigned as health minister, couldn’’t do epidemic prevention properly. Chiang even went as far as to accuse Chen of lying all the time. Chen in response said the Taiwan government’’s fight against the pandemic had marked a new chapter in world public health. Meanwhile, local pundits are divided on whether the three-way mayoral race could be to Chen’’s advantage. Some say Chen could get elected on a split vote, while others say the DPP’’s 28-year-long losing streak in Taipei will continue.
The DPP’s Taipei mayoral candidate Chen Shih-chung on Friday continued to stump at temples, attracting crowds of supporters. But one man in the crowd in particular caught attention from the media after turning up to Chen’s campaign events for three days in a row. Reports say over the past six years, the man had sought help from the KMT’s rival candidate Chiang Wan-an on four occasions, leading some to question his motives.
Chiang Wan-an
KMT Taipei mayoral candidate
I held seven meetings to assist this petitioner and helped him issue 14 official documents. Although I did not entirely fulfill his wishes, I have already done my absolute best.
Chen Shih-chung
DPP Taipei mayoral candidate
If the citizens run into difficulties, we’re willing to listen to them. We’ll look into our records and see which ministry can help.
Chen and Chiang both made a big show of how they each help members of the public. A new poll released by a foundation run by KMT legislator Johnny Chiang reveals that 56% of the public are dissatisfied with former health minister Chen’s performance in fighting the COVID pandemic. In that poll, dissatisfaction with the government procurement of COVID vaccines also broke the 50% mark.
Chiang Wan-an
KMT Taipei mayoral candidate
Chen Shih-chung’s epidemic prevention results simply don’t make the grade. Politicians actually need to be honest with the people, not like Minister Chen Chih-chung, who lies all the time.
Chen Shih-chung
DPP Taipei mayoral candidate
I think this is something that everyone can evaluate. However, I just want to say here, I insist that our epidemic prevention results get a score of at least a 75, or even 80. This will be remembered as a new chapter in the world’s history of public health.
Some media pundits say Chen could be the DPP candidate with the best chance at winning back Taiwan’s capital for his party, after 28 years of DPP losses in the Taipei mayoral race. But a three-way race could also result in defeat, as happened in 2018. Will Chen’s race result in victory like Chen Shui-bian or defeat like Yao Wen-chih?
Chen Shih-chung
DPP Taipei mayoral candidate
We need to adopt the “Ah-chung” model. We will work hard, Ah-chung will do the right thing, and I hope the public will support what we do.
Taking off his tie and rolling up his sleeves, Chen has adopted his own “Ah-chung” model for electoral campaigning as he fights to win the capital back for his party.
2022-07-22