Taipei: The Kuomintang (KMT) will announce its mayoral nominees for New Taipei, Yilan County, and Chiayi City on March 11, then begin talks with the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) to field joint opposition candidates, a party official said Monday.

According to Focus Taiwan, KMT Organizational Development Committee head Lee Che-hua stated at a press conference that the two parties will establish a task force to discuss coordination mechanisms and determine the most electable contenders in the three key battlegrounds for the 2026 local elections.

In New Taipei, the KMT has rallied behind Deputy Taipei Mayor Lee Shu-chuan, who announced on Monday that he has submitted his resignation to prepare for a mayoral run. The TPP has nominated its chairman, Huang Kuo-chang, for the race. During a radio program on Monday, Huang reiterated his commitment to cooperation, emphasizing that the TPP will work with sincerity to create the strongest team. He outlined a three-stage process involving drafting joint policy platforms, signing a cooperation agreement, and implementing the agreed framework.

In Yilan County, the KMT will select between Legislator Wu Tsung-hsien and Yilan County Council Speaker Zhang Sheng-de through a telephone poll this week. Meanwhile, the TPP has nominated former legislator Chen Wan-hui. For Chiayi City, the KMT has chosen physician Weng Shou-liang, while the TPP has selected former legislator Chang Chi-kai.