Taichung mayor Lu Shiu-yen is stepping out of her mild "mom mayor" image and positioning herself as the opposition's leader for Taiwan's 2028 presidential race — good for a KMT hoping to unify, bad for the ruling DPP.

• She called for a no-confidence push against the cabinet in 2026 and against President Lai in 2028.
• She appeared alongside legislative speaker Han Kuo-yu and Taipei mayor Chiang Wan-an, saying the KMT needs all of them to win back power.
• She is courting the smaller TPP, calling Taichung a model for KMT-TPP cooperation and offering to campaign for their candidates.
• She has been stumping for KMT candidates across Yilan, Hualien, Yunlin, Kaohsiung and Pingtung, building a national profile.
• KMT insiders read the timing as a response to Chiang's big anti-tainted-oil rally, which drew 200,000 people and made him the story.

Outlook: Her 2028 ambitions should become much clearer once the year-end local elections are over.