And The TPP Will Vote For...

* Taiwan's Legislative Yuan (LY) will begin a new session and elect a speaker and a vice speaker at the same time. Since neither the KMT nor the DPP holds an outright majority, the eight seats of the TPP thus become critical. On the eve of the February 1 election, the TPP made it clear that it will nominate its own candidate, Huang Shan-shan, to contest the speakership.

* Suppose all 113 LY members vote along party lines, it is impossible to elect Huang with TPP's eight seats. Therefore, if no party candidate wins a majority in the first round of voting, the second round, or the run-off, becomes a competition between KMT's Han Kuo-yu and DPP's Yu Si-kuan. Barring any surprises, KMT's Han will win the speakership in the LY.

* Since many local media outlets had already predicted the declared strategy above would serve the TPP's interests best, many believe this strategy would help the TPP win a seat as LY committee convener, capturing leverage over priority of draft bills to be review by the said committee, if a negotiated agreement can be reached with either KMT or DPP. It would be more politically significant for a young political party just established in 2019.

* Depending on the bill, one can expect the TPP to work with both KMT and DPP at different times. It is undoubtedly the best strategy for a small party looking to grow and expand in the coming years. In addition to the relentless media pursuit and coverage during the last couple of weeks, TPP has secured its position as an indispensable player in Taiwan's young democracy. The key is not to over-play its minority niche. This time, the TPP has come close, but not overstepping that line.

* In essence, TPP's future is in its own hands. Less politicking and more on legislative performance would be a good place to start. How cohesive the party can stay together, particularly the eight seats in the LY, would be one of the first challenges this young party faces.