Cheng Lai-wen: The turnout may not be high in the 2026 election, and the Kuomintang must guard against the DPP’s offensive

KMT Chairman Cheng Lai-wen said that this year’s election will be relatively cold and the turnout may not be high, especially among young people. The votes must not be careless. (Photo by reporter Tian Yuhua)

The 2026 local elections are around the corner. KMT Chairman Cheng Lai-wen said at the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China that the counties and cities where the KMT is leading cannot be careless. "If there is no big win, it cannot be regarded as a win." Constituencies with small gaps and slight leads must have a high degree of crisis awareness.

Zheng Liwen said that this year's election is relatively cold and the turnout may not be high, especially among young people. In this case, both comprehensive mobilization of the basic base and high turnout are important. Counties and cities where the Kuomintang is leading cannot be careless. If the turnout is low, but DPP supporters are likely to go out to vote no matter what, the blue camp must not be careless. "It cannot be said that it is a guaranteed victory or a distant lead, so it doesn't matter if my vote is missing there." You must not take any chances.

She said that although some counties and cities are leading, the gap is not large. The Kuomintang should be more conservative. "If it does not win a big victory, it cannot be regarded as a win." Constituencies with a small gap and a slight lead must have a high degree of crisis awareness. Some integration work in the 5th and 5th wave constituencies is still in progress, and there is still enough time in the future. "But since it is already a tug of war, the 5th and 5th wave cannot be careless." In addition, most of the constituencies that are slightly behind are non-Kuomintang-controlled constituencies, and we hope that everyone will do their best to assist in the election.

Zheng Liwen reminded that the DPP will not be soft-hearted. Even if the candidates of the KMT are innocent and legitimate, they will still be troubled. However, the KMT cannot be tied up and dare not vote because of this, otherwise supporters will have a chilling effect. She hopes that everyone will go all out. "After 26 years, if political parties can rotate in 28 years, we can truly return justice to justice and no longer be suppressed and hunted by the state machinery, nor will they abuse the resources of the state machinery to help the DPP elections."

KMT Chairman Zheng Liwen presided over the regular meeting of the CPC Central Committee. (Photo by reporter Tian Yuhua)