Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je says he would like to run for president in 2024 to put his political beliefs into action. Ko made the announcement in an interview published Tuesday by the Japanese newspaper Sankei Shimbun. The mayor’s political ambitions do not come as a surprise to anyone. But while he says it’s important for Taiwan to push for political and judicial reforms, the down-to-earth former surgeon has known all along that he will have to face political reality before making a final decision. Ko told the newspaper that given uncertainties over international relations and Taiwan’s politics, his decision will hinge on factors including whether his approval rating exceeds 20%.  

It remains to be seen whether Ko will be able to attract voter support in the next few years. A commentary piece by Up Media, an online media outlet, says that Ko, a former ally of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) no longer poses a challenge to the DPP government. The article says that Ko’s popularity and influence has weakened since he was first elected in 2014. That’s partly due to his founding of the Taiwan People’s Party in August 2019, his differences with DPP in terms of policy, as well as the strong public support the DPP has enjoyed on a wave of anti-China sentiment. The article also says that as smart and politically shrewd as Ko is, the mayor is well aware of his lack of a strong team with members that trust and support one another.