"The DPP dares to be so arrogant because the opposition is weak" Ko Wen-je: The KMT often does things that make people shake their heads

Ko Wen-je, former chair of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), visited Tainan today (31st) to accompany city council candidate registrations. Later, Ko posted on Facebook stating that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) dares to act so arrogantly precisely because opposition forces are weak. He criticized the Kuomintang (KMT) for frequently making disappointing moves and the TPP for being too small, saying, "We aim to be a pivotal minority, but end up being merely a minor and non-decisive force."

Ko noted that with only 89 days left until voting, the election atmosphere remains lukewarm. The TPP currently holds only one incumbent councilor south of the Zhuoshui River, making expansion from such a small base extremely difficult. He appealed to voters in Tainan to give these candidates a chance and prevent Taiwan's politics from being locked into an endless blue-green rivalry.

According to Ko, political commentary shows the DPP completely ignores the KMT, directing 80% of its attacks toward the TPP and personally targeting Ko and TPP chair Huang Kuo-chang. Legislation passed by the Legislative Yuan is dismissed with a policy of "no co-signature, no promulgation, no enforcement." He accused the judiciary of becoming a tool for political struggle. The DPP's arrogance, he argued, stems from the weakness of the opposition: the KMT's repeated missteps and the TPP's insufficient strength.

Ko warned that without a stronger third force, Taiwan's politics will devolve into a contest of "which side is worse," rather than "which side is better." While acknowledging the TPP is not perfect and makes mistakes, he emphasized its willingness to reflect and improve—something he claims sets it apart from other parties. He urged Tainan residents to give TPP candidates an opportunity to serve and solve local problems, allowing the third force to take root in southern Taiwan. "The most precious aspect of democracy is that people always have the right to choose," Ko concluded. "Parties exist to solve people's problems; elections determine where politics should go."

Ko reiterated his belief that a healthy democracy requires diverse political options and criticized the current two-party dominance for stifling meaningful debate and reform. He called for civic engagement and support for alternative voices to break the cycle of partisan gridlock.