Chiang, Shen ramp up campaigns ahead of local elections

Detailed summary

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) challenger Puma Shen (沈伯洋) stepped up their campaigns Saturday, with Chiang staging a large-scale rally and march and Shen organizing a music festival ahead of Nov. 28's local elections.

Taipei, Nov. 14 (CNA) Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) challenger Puma Shen (沈伯洋) stepped up their campaigns Saturday, with Chiang staging a large-scale rally and march and Shen organizing a music festival ahead of Nov. 28's local elections.

Chiang, of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), is seeking re-election and said his goal was to make Taipei a safer, more livable and happier city, while Shen called for greater public participation in shaping the capital's future.

Chiang's "March for Peace of Mind" (安心大遊行) took place along two routes, with supporters gathering near his campaign headquarters and Taipei Arena in the north and at Daan Forest Park in the south.

Speaking before the march, Chiang said his administration had introduced policies and infrastructure projects to improve transportation, housing and residents' quality of life.

The procession was led by Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) and Chiang's wife, Shih Fang-hsuan (石舫亘), alongside several KMT lawmakers and city councilors.

Han urged voters to support Chiang, saying the election should demonstrate the positive and compassionate side of Taiwan's democracy. He also accused the DPP of resorting to smear campaigns and disinformation during elections.

Meanwhile, Shen held an "O'SHEN Festival" (洋流祭) at 228 Peace Memorial Park, featuring five campaign songs co-created with Taipei residents and interactive activities highlighting his policy proposals.

Taking the stage at around 6 p.m., Shen said he hoped to write a new chapter in Taipei's history.

He said he wanted to move beyond traditional campaign rallies, where supporters simply listen to candidates' speeches, and instead create opportunities for public participation and interaction.

Opening of the article, excerpted from Focus Taiwan (CNA). To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.