Stepping away from his mayoral duties to hit the campaign trail, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an arrived at the Legislative Yuan on Nov. 13 to rally alongside Kuomintang lawmakers ahead of the upcoming “Taipei Peace and Security” parade.
The morning press conference featured multiple KMT legislators wearing security sashes and waving campaign flags while chanting slogans to boost momentum. Yet the united front carried a few notable absences and silent moments. Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu stood alongside Chiang on stage but refrained from shouting any campaign slogans, while KMT lawmaker 翁曉玲 did not attend the event.
Addressing the gathering outside the legislative chamber, Han offered a warm welcome to Chiang. “Warmly welcome Chiang Wan-an back home, the sun is out, hopefully the clouds will walk away, and I wish Chiang Wan-an success in his aspirations,” Han said.
Chiang expressed deep appreciation for the backing he received from Han and the KMT legislative caucus. He said that the parliamentary team has served as a vital shield for municipal projects and citizens’ rights when dealing with major legislative issues like the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures and the Local Government Act.
Beyond municipal matters, Chiang used the platform to level sharp criticisms against the central government. He accused the administration of ignoring Han’s recent warnings during the National Day celebrations regarding the continuous expansion of executive power.
Chiang argued that President Lai Ching-te had failed to learn lessons from failed recall efforts, and accused the ruling authorities of trampling on the legislative branch by refusing to countersign, thereby damaging Taiwan’s constitutional democracy.
With the political atmosphere charged, Chiang emphasized the necessity of unity within the opposition camp during a critical election cycle. He urged supporters to turn out for the Nov. 14 demonstration regardless of the weather conditions.
“In this critical moment, the opposition camp does not have the luxury of division; we must unite even more closely,” Chiang said, calling on voters to safeguard Taipei’s stability and reject ideological manipulation.
