Can disaffected youth deliver for Taiwan’s third-placed presidential candidate Ko?

Ko Wen-je’s unconventional style and focus on domestic issues is winning support among young voters who are turning away from the main parties

But the leader of the minor party is facing an uphill battle when it comes to attracting older voters in next Saturday’s election

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A young campaigner encourages support for Ko Wen-je, the TPP candidate in next week’s presidential election in Taiwan. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 6:00am, 6 Jan 2024Updated: 6:04pm, 9 Jan 2024

The supporters swarming around an open-top truck bearing one of the candidates in Taiwan’s looming presidential election had one noticeable thing in common – they were overwhelmingly young.

In a worrying sign for the island’s two main parties, the young voters were giving their enthusiastic support for minor party leader Ko Wen-je, affectionately called Ah Bei – “uncle” in English.

Some held placards reading “Add oil, Ah Bei”. Others waved small turquoise flags bearing the letters KP and the slogan “keep promise” in white, as well as a circled No 1 flanked by the names of Ko and his running mate Wu Hsin-ying in Chinese.

“Ah Bei, get elected,” his supporters shouted as Ko boarded the truck to lead a campaign parade of vehicles through his hometown in Hsinchu, south of Taipei on Thursday.

“Why do I support Ah Bei? Because he truly understands the difficulties young people have encountered and has promised to improve our plight,” said supermarket cashier Liang Yi-hua, 28, who was among the crowd.

Supporters of TPP presidential candidate Ko Wen-je outside his campaign office in Hsinchu city, Taiwan on Thursday. Photo: AP

“I can’t afford to buy a house or apartment, even if it is relatively cheaper in Hsinchu. Nor can I afford to get married because I still have to pay my college debt,” Liang said.

Can disaffected youth deliver for Taiwan’s third-placed presidential candidate Ko?

Ko Wen-je’s unconventional style and focus on domestic issues is winning support among young voters who are turning away from the main parties But the leader of the minor party is facing an uphill battle when it comes to attracting older voters in next Saturday’s election

Ko Wen-je’s unconventional style and focus on domestic issues is winning support among young voters who are turning away from the main parties

But the leader of the minor party is facing an uphill battle when it comes to attracting older voters in next Saturday’s election