European chamber briefs executives on Taiwan election outlook
TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan (ECCT, 歐洲商會) convened a panel of political analysts and party representatives on Tuesday (Oct. 27) to brief international business members on the island's upcoming municipal elections. Foreign executives are seeking clarity on local governance outcomes that could affect operations across Taiwan's 22 municipalities.
The Nov. 28 elections will determine mayors, city councilors, and village chiefs across Taiwan, with some 19,000 candidates vying for approximately 11,000 local positions. A concurrent nuclear energy referendum adds another layer of complexity for businesses tracking Taiwan's energy policy trajectory.
"We have members in every single county here in Taiwan," ECCT CEO Freddie Höglund said in a measured tone, emphasizing the geographic scope of European business interests. "It is important for them because they want to understand how politics and how the agendas are being driven in their local communities where they're based and where they have service centers and manufacturing."
The chamber partnered with ICRT, Taiwan's English-language radio station, to host the luncheon at the Shangri-La Far Eastern Taipei hotel. The panel featured representatives from Taiwan's two major parties: the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the opposition Kuomintang (KMT).
Tim Berge, general manager of ICRT, said the event aimed to bridge the gap between local and international communities. "Part of ICRT's mission is to be a bridge between the local and the international communities," Berge said in a warm, articulate tone. "Events like this are a perfect opportunity for ICRT to both educate the international community about what are the issues behind the upcoming election."
"We never really invite the candidates themselves because we want to keep this nonpolitical," Höglund added.
The Taipei mayoral race dominated much of the discussion. Panelists noted that DPP challenger Puma Shen (沈伯洋) has surged in polls against KMT incumbent Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安), defying early expectations.
Michael Chen (陳文昊), director of international affairs for the DPP, expressed confidence. "I really do think we feel optimistic that the race is really close, that we have a real shot at winning Taipei this time," Chen said with measured optimism. The DPP has not won the Taipei mayorship since 1994.
Dr. Wu I-ding (吳怡玎), vice president of the National Policy Foundation, a KMT-affiliated think tank, pushed back. She predicted Chiang would win, arguing that some polls showing Shen ahead contained methodological flaws. "Traditional KMT supporters are quiet supporters," Wu said.
When asked what kind of result the KMT would need to claim victory, panel moderator Michael Fahey, a lawyer and political commentator based in Yunlin, noted the party's high baseline. "The KMT right now holds a lot of the seats. It did great in the last cycle," Fahey said. Wu responded that the party currently controls 14 of 22 municipalities and would be satisfied to maintain a similar number.
Beyond Taipei, panelists discussed competitive races in New Taipei City, Kaohsiung, and Hsinchu City.
On China's influence, Chen said cross-strait tensions have not been a major campaign issue. He cited a public apology by television host Kevin Tsai (蔡康永) for attending a DPP rally as evidence of Beijing's "indirect pressure."
Business-relevant policy proposals received limited attention. One exception was Chiang's proposal to redevelop Taipei's Songshan Airport (松山機場) into an AI technology park. The plan sparked debate among panelists over its feasibility and impact on outlying island connectivity.
Wu defended the proposal, citing Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's search for office space in Taipei as evidence of demand. "What was his biggest challenge? Space. Simple as that," Wu said. She argued that freeing up the airport land would connect the Neihu Software Park (內湖科技園區) with Nvidia's planned headquarters.
When Höglund asked which candidate would be most beneficial for European businesses, panelists acknowledged the difficulty of identifying specific positions. The exchange underscored that these remain fundamentally local elections focused on municipal governance. ◼
▶ Voting is scheduled for Nov. 28 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The nuclear energy referendum, which requires approval from at least 25 percent of eligible voters to pass, will be held concurrently.