Special municipalities are the highest level cities in Taiwan. In the past, only the capital of Taipei and the southern port city of Kaohsiung enjoyed this status. But in June 2009, the central government decided to create new municipalities, which operate directly under the central government.
At the end of 2010, Taiwan redistricted its major cities into five special municipalities: Taipei, New Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung. New Taipei was formerly known as Taipei County, while Kaohsiung and Tainan became bigger because they merged their respective cities and counties. In December 2014, Taoyuan will be upgraded and become the sixth special municipalities.
As special municipalities, these cities are given more resources and are able to participate in Cabinet meetings. While President Ma Ying-jeou said this change is aimed at boosting the nation's competitiveness, cities and counties that were left out said they risked becoming "second-class citizens".
Mayoral elections will take place in the new municipalities on November 29. The ruling Kuomintang has finalized its candidates for the elections. Sean Lien, the son of a former vice president, will run in Taipei. Incumbent New Taipei Mayor Eric Chu and Taichung Mayor Jason Hu will seek re-election, while scholar Huang Hsiu-shuang will run in Tainan, and former Kaohsiung County Commissioner Yang Chiu-hsing will run in the southern port city.
Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Progressive Party has also announced its line-up. While the party does not have a candidate in Taipei, it is supporting independent candidate Ko Wen-je, an outspoken surgeon. Former premier Yu Shyi-kun will run for the New Taipei mayoral seat, Lin Chia-lung will run in Taichung, and Tainan Mayor William Lai and Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu will both seek re-election.
Although the elections are local elections, they involve about 60% of the population of Taiwan. Many analysts believe the outcome of the mayoral elections will be a bellwether for the presidential election two years later in 2016.