Taiwan’s opposition parties join forces for local elections with eye on 2028 race

Taiwan’s two main opposition parties are set to join forces in local elections, a midterm contest this autumn that analysts say could lay the groundwork for potential cooperation in the 2028 leadership race to challenge the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).The elections, scheduled for November and commonly known as the “nine-in-one” elections, will determine local officials and councillors across nine categories, ranging from mayors and county magistrates to village chiefs, as well as councillors and representatives in Taiwan’s 22 administrative regions.On Wednesday, the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and the smaller Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) approved a cooperation agreement for the local elections to coordinate candidate nominations.02:41All 24 opposition Kuomintang lawmakers in Taiwan survive mass recall campaignAll 24 opposition Kuomintang lawmakers in Taiwan survive mass recall campaignKMT chairwoman Cheng Li-wun said the agreement marked an important step towards closer alignment between the “blue” and “white” camps, referring to their respective political colours.She expressed hope that the cooperation would not only be successful during the November poll but would also lay a solid foundation for the 2028 leadership race, according to a party statement that day.TPP chairman Huang Kuo-chang said his party remained committed to promoting cooperation with “the utmost goodwill and sincerity”, and would move swiftly to implement the next phase of coordination.The vote, which is held every four years midway through the island’s leadership term, is widely seen as a “trial run” for the general election two years later.However, it primarily focuses on local governance, and the implications for broader issues – such as cross-strait relations – are limited.