Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen is pushing rival opposition parties to unite against the ruling DPP, a move that could reshape Taiwan's next election fight.

• Lu wants Taiwan's opposition parties to band together into a broad alliance while still competing with each other.
• She says the DPP's long grip on power has made the government corrupt and hostile to democracy and free speech.
• The pitch drew support from Taiwan People's Party chairman Huang Kuo-chang and KMT lawmaker Hsieh Lung-chieh, hinting the on-again, off-again KMT-TPP cooperation talks could be patched up.
• DPP figures in Taichung fired back, calling the alliance idea absurd and attacking Lu's own record running the city for eight years.

Outlook: Expect more talks between the KMT and the Taiwan People's Party as they test whether a joint front can hold together before the next election cycle.