As an expression of goodwill toward smaller political parties with similar ideals, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday said it would postpone its plans to nominate legislative candidates in 13 constituencies for next year’s elections.
DPP Campaign Strategy Committee convener Su Jia-chyuan (蘇嘉全) said that the party would seek to cooperate with candidates from smaller political parties in constituencies in six cities and counties across the nation.
Nomination plans would continue in July if cross-party negotiations failed to conclude satisfactorily, Su added.
Su said the DPP would seek to re-enact the “Ko-P model” from the Nov. 29 nine-in-one elections last year, in which the DPP opted out of the race and supported independent Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) during his campaign.
The announcement came amid a surge in legislative candidates from minor parties with progressive agendas, including those from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the New Power Party (NPP), which are both seen as attracting voters that lean toward the pan-green camp.
The 13 constituencies include districts 4, 6, 7 and 8 in Taipei; districts 8, 9, 11 and 12 in New Taipei City; districts 5 and 6 in Taoyuan; District 3 in Taichung; District 2 in Miaoli County; and the seat for Lienchiang County.
They encompass many districts in which candidates from the SDP or NPP have announced their intention to run, such as Taipei’s Daan District (大安), in which SDP convener Fan Yun (范雲) plans to run, and Taichung’s District 3, which covers the Tanzi (潭子), Daya (大雅), Shengang (神岡) and Houli (后里) districts, where NPP candidate Hung Tzu-yung (洪慈庸) declare her candidacy.
Both the SDP and NPP intend to field at least 10 candidates in the legislative race next year, as according to the law, a party must nominate at least 10 district legislator candidates in order to nominate legislator-at-large candidates.
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