Five points to restore confidence in the DPP

Following the second failed recall elections on Aug. 23 against seven Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators and the nuclear power referendum, 19 Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) local councilors called on President William Lai (賴清德) to win back public support.

The appeal came as a recent My Formosa poll showed that the KMT’s favorability rose to 36 percent, surpassing the DPP’s 33 percent. Most of the councilors are in their 30s, representing a younger generation of leaders who are concerned about the party’s direction.

Keelung City Councilor Jiho Chang (張之豪) said that he hoped their five proposals help secure Taiwan’s long-term safety, sovereignty and economic prosperity.

The first proposal urged Lai to seek bipartisan cooperation on Constitutional Court appointments, even if he has to compromise. They said that an independent and credible court is essential to safeguard sovereignty should political power shift, ensuring that acts undermining democracy or statehood could be overturned.

The second focuses on economic security, which the councilors said is central to regaining the confidence of younger and swing voters. With China’s intensifying military pressure, economic coercion and disinformation campaigns, public perception is critical. The public needs to feel that their voices are not taken for granted, they said.

Housing affordability also loomed large. Chang said that many of his supporters view their inability to buy a home as their greatest bereavement.

He suggested expanding public housing and encouraging real-estate development in less populated areas east of Taipei. For example, Keelung to Xinyi District (信義) only takes 20 minutes by car or bus when traffic is light. Other New Taipei City districts, such as Jinshan (金山) and Wanli (萬里), could also be included in housing projects.

Such development should be paired with expanded public transportation. Bold, visible measures that tangibly improve livelihoods are crucial. Policies that deliver broad benefits would also leave the opposition with less incentive to oppose them in the legislature.

The most persistent issue is income. When the KMT proposes cash handouts, the DPP should avoid dismissing them outright as unconstitutional. Instead, it could respond with more tailored subsidies or programs based on urgent public needs, perhaps using progressive, adjustable amounts tied to income. A successful precedent was former president Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) TPASS program, which proved widely popular by offering unlimited rides across Taipei for just NT$1,200 per month.

The third and fifth proposals — on green energy and party reform — called for Lai and the DPP to act with greater agility, responsiveness and decisiveness. The councilors said that if nuclear power could be incorporated safely into a hybrid energy strategy, the administration should take the option seriously.

In last week’s referendum, the public voted in favor of nuclear energy — although the measure failed to clear the threshold. The councilors also called for stronger, clearer messaging to accompany future policy initiatives, along with fresh, more diverse leadership in the party and the Cabinet.

Whether these younger voices would be heeded remains to be seen. The DPP has traditionally resolved internal differences through dialogue and unity ahead of elections. The question is whether that spirit of cohesion would hold true in the lead-up to next year’s polls and in 2028.

This article was previously published on Taipei Times on September 1 2025.