A first-term lawmaker who was blacklisted by Beijing over his alleged support for Taiwanese independence will challenge Taipei’s popular incumbent mayor in the local elections later this year.
The ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s decision to nominate Puma Shen Pao-yang, an outspoken critic of Beijing whose political identity has been built around his calls to strengthen the island’s security, came as a surprise to many.
The former academic joined politics only two years ago, entering the legislature via the party list system, which allocates seats on a proportional basis. Many observers have questioned why the ruling party nominated him.
Taipei traditionally leans towards the main opposition party Kuomintang, and the current mayor, Wayne Chiang Wan-an, is seen as one of the party’s rising stars and a future contender for the island’s leadership.
Recent polls suggest Shen faces a formidable challenge.
A TVBS survey released in late May found Chiang leading by 58 per cent to 30 per cent among likely voters, with 13 per cent undecided.
The poll showed Chiang leading across almost every demographic group, including voters aged 20 to 29, where he enjoyed 60 per cent support compared with Shen’s 37 per cent.
