Ssu Kuang-yang, son of KMT legislator Wan Mei-ling, has given up his party's nomination after becoming embroiled in a bullying controversy, and will instead contest the Taoyuan City council election as an independent — a variable for the pan-blue camp's electoral prospects.

• Accompanied by classmates and friends, Ssu Kuang-yang completed his registration at the Taoyuan City Election Commission on the afternoon of the 3rd, standing in the city's 1st electoral district for a seat on the city council.
• He had originally secured the KMT's nomination, but has faced repeated accusations of involvement in bullying since announcing his candidacy, and in July switched to running with the party's acknowledgement rather than its nomination.
• He said he gave up the nomination in order to protect party leaders and colleagues, and to prevent the controversy from spreading to the pan-blue camp as a whole.
• He stressed that his position has not changed — he wants to hold the seat for the blue camp and supports Taoyuan Mayor Chang San-cheng — and that he will do his utmost to win residents' backing.

Outlook: With the campaign entering its formal post-registration stage, whether the bullying controversy continues to affect his support will be the key thing to watch in Taoyuan's 1st electoral district.