Jun 24 02:30 AM US/EasternTAIPEI, June 24 (AP) - (Kyodo) — Taiwan's Interior Ministry announced a sweeping plan to restructure administrative zones across the island, a blueprint that some experts say amounts to gerrymandering to benefit the island's ruling Nationalist Party (KMT), local media reported Wednesday.
After a 15-hour marathon meeting on Tuesday, the ministry approved plans to upgrade Taipei County to a "special municipality," merge central Taichung city with Taichung County, and merge southern Kaohsiung city with Kaohsiung County, according to the reports.
The plan, the reports said, was submitted to the Cabinet, which will decide on implementation in the next six months.
Counties can apply for "special municipality" status if their populations exceed 1.25 million people. The upgrade paves the way for more financial support from the central government and political power for the local administration involved, according to the Local Government Law.
The political implications of the plan are significant, experts say, as the KMT and the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party prepare for island-wide mayoral and country magistrate elections in December.
"Of course, the KMT has a political agenda," said George Tsai, a political scientist at Taiwan's Chinese Culture University.
For example, upgrading Taipei County to a municipality could lead to a postponement of the election for the top post of that administration, buying more time for its unpopular KMT-affiliated magistrate, Chou Hsi-wei, to garner support, or for the KMT to field other candidates, Tsai said.
The merging of Taichung city and County could also extend the political career of Taichung city Mayor Jason Hu, a KMT heavyweight, by resetting his term limit.
With Hu, whose approval ratings remain high, in charge of the Taichung municipality, the KMT could further solidify its power base in central Taiwan.
Although the plan calls for a similar merging of Kaohsiung city with Kaohsiung County, considered DPP strongholds, it held off on approving bids by southern Tainan city and Tainan County -- also DPP-led administrations -- to merge and become a special municipality -- a setback for the opposition party as it seeks to solidify its base in the south.
Whatever party fares better in the mayoral and magistrate races is likely to enjoy more momentum going into the general and presidential elections in 2012.
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