Central Election Commission disqualifies ten local council candidates, highlighting New Party challenges.

The Central Election Commission held a committee meeting on the 16th of this month to review the qualifications of candidates for the upcoming nine-in-one local elections. The nine-in-one elections encompass multiple positions, including mayors of special municipalities and counties and cities, as well as city and county councilors across various levels, exerting a significant impact on local governance and the political landscape. The committee first confirmed that all 81 candidates for special municipality mayors and county magistrates meet the relevant qualification criteria with no objections raised, indicating a stable roster of mayoral candidates for the current election cycle.

However, during the review of candidates for county and city councilors as well as city councilors, the committee found 10 candidates to be non-compliant. The most prominent case involves New Party member You Zhibin, who originally planned to run for Taipei City Councilor. When submitting his qualification documents, You attached a certificate of forfeiture of household registration of the Republic of China (implying nationality of the People's Republic of China), but the document showed that the period since his forfeiture of nationality was less than ten years. According to the provisions of the Local Elections Act, individuals running for local councilor positions must have forfeited the nationality of the People's Republic of China for at least ten years; otherwise, they are deemed unqualified. This regulation aims to ensure that local political participants possess long-term residency and a commitment to the local society, preventing short-term opportunistic candidates from disrupting local governance.

You Zhibin's case is not merely a matter of individual qualification, but also reflects the New Party's participation strategy in local elections. Since its establishment, the New Party has primarily focused on youth issues and social justice, yet it has not fielded a large-scale slate of local councilors in the nine-in-one elections. Had You been permitted to run, it would have provided the New Party with a vital entry opportunity into the Taipei City Council; conversely, the disqualification may weaken its influence on the local political stage. This decision also serves as a reminder to other minor parties and independent candidates that they must strictly adhere to statutory conditions such as the forfeiture of nationality and residency duration requirements to avoid losing their eligibility to run due to procedural flaws.

Regarding the other nine disqualified candidates, the committee will handle subsequent matters in accordance with regulations. If their application materials are insufficient or fail to meet other statutory qualifications (such as residency duration or a clean criminal record), they will be formally listed as unqualified. These decisions will be publicized prior to the election to ensure that voters can cast their ballots in a fair and transparent environment. The Central Election Commission also stated that it will continue to oversee the candidate qualification review process and, when necessary, revise regulations to enhance the integrity of the electoral system.

Overall, the candidate qualification review for the nine-in-one elections is not only an administrative procedure, but also a safeguard for the quality of local politics. Although the 81 mayoral candidates have qualified, the disqualification of the 10 councilor candidates serves as a reminder to electoral authorities and political parties that contenders must possess full statutory qualifications and a long-term commitment to local society. This practice not only upholds electoral fairness, but also lays the foundation for the long-term development of local governance in Taiwan.