Chen Chi-mai reveals 2018 defeat made him think political career was over

Reviewing recent shifts in Taiwan’s political landscape, the personal journey of Kaohsiung mayor Chen Chi‑ma i stands out as one of the most dramatic and instructive chapters. Speaking at a public event, Chen unusually disclosed a long‑held sentiment, recalling the moment he lost the 2018 nine‑in‑one local elections for Kaohsiung’s mayoralty. He admitted that even he could not believe the outcome and that a thought briefly crossed his mind that “my political life may have reached its end.” This candid confession not only revived memories of the fierce 2018 campaign for many Taiwanese voters but also highlighted the human side and psychological turning points that politicians experience when power rises and falls.

The 2018 local election was a profound shock for both the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Chen personally. Kaohsiung had long been governed by the DPP, and the race attracted national attention, with both the pan‑blue and pan‑green camps mobilising substantial resources. When the results were announced, Chen was defeated by a sizable margin by the Kuomintang (KMT) candidate, marking his first major electoral loss. For a figure who had been regarded as a rising mid‑generation leader within the DPP and whose political trajectory had seemed smooth, the defeat was a heavy blow. On the night of the loss, Chen displayed composure, urging supporters to accept the result and wish the victor well. Yet, after stepping down as a candidate, the disappointment and uncertainty about his future did lead him to entertain the pessimistic notion that his political career might be over.

Taiwan’s political environment, however, changes quickly, and crises often become turning points. After a period of retreat and recalibration, Chen’s career took an unexpected “extra chapter.” In early 2019, Premier Su Tseng‑chang invited him to serve as Vice Premier when forming his cabinet. The appointment returned Chen swiftly to the centre of national politics and gave him a platform to oversee governance from a nationwide perspective while honing his administrative skills. In the less‑than‑two‑year span he served as Vice Premier, Chen applied his expertise in health and medicine to a range of initiatives, notably the containment of African swine fever, the implementation of a real‑name mask‑distribution system, and the coordination of several major forward‑looking infrastructure projects. His performance erased much of the gloom from his earlier defeat and built a solid foundation of capital and reputation for a future political comeback.

The next turning point arrived when Kaohsiung’s mayor, who had been in office for less than two years, was removed through a recall, triggering a mayoral by‑election. The DPP promptly nominated the then‑well‑regarded Vice Premier Chen to run for the post. The by‑election represented both an opportunity to reclaim lost ground and a must‑win, do‑or‑die battle for Chen. He returned to the “port city” with a highly efficient, “tight‑tight‑tight” style and ultimately won the by‑election, resuming leadership of Kaohsiung. From the disheartening loss in 2018 to a triumphant victory in the 2020 by‑election, Chen’s actions demonstrate that the length of a political life often depends on an individual’s perseverance and adaptability, providing a rare example of a reversal in Taiwan’s local‑autonomy history.

Reflecting on this experience, Chen said he has come to understand that “the road is made by people, and you must fight for it.” The maxim has become his personal motto and mirrors the broader narrative of Taiwanese politicians who survive adversity and carve out new paths amid change. From the despair of defeat to the responsibility of governance, Chen’s trajectory illustrates that politics is not merely a contest for power but a test of endurance and self‑repair. As his tenure as Kaohsiung mayor has earned public approval for initiatives such as industrial transformation and the formation of a semiconductor corridor, the journey once thought to have reached its terminus has expanded into a more substantive chapter, leaving a lasting reflection and imprint on Taiwan’s political arena.

(Source: Central News Agency)