President 
Lai Ching-te said he would give Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai "seven stars" at the launch of Chen's governance book, describing himself as a former "five-star mayor" who does not praise lightly. The book, "Kaohsiung, Kin Kin Kin: 2,314 Days of Extreme Transformation", was launched in Taipei on September 4, with the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) mayoral candidates for Taipei, New Taipei and Chiayi City, Shen Po-yang, Su Chiao-hui and Wang Mei-hui, in attendance, CNA reported. Lai said he would buy 500 copies for DPP officials and officeholders.
What did the president say about Chen's record? Lai said Chen had led his team like a "desperado", using hounding phone calls to pull in central-government and civic resources, CNA reported. His examples included handing a polluted former CPC refinery site to TSMC within two and a half years against an original 17-year cleanup estimate, and building a concert economy "from nothing". He said with a laugh that the book's biggest promoter might be Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, who, questioned by councillors on issues including smoking areas, shade facilities and food-safety testing, had repeatedly asked why they did not ask Kaohsiung. Speaking as DPP chairman, Lai said "the next leg is very important" and that he hoped Chen would hand the baton to the party's Kaohsiung candidate, Lai Jui-lung, and see him elected by a wide margin.
What did Chen say about his future? In the book's preface, Lai said Chen would not be at ease for long after his term, as a "bigger microphone" awaits him. Asked about his plans, Chen said his answer to every councillor was to do the job well and serve out his term, and that career planning had "never been something reliable or predictable" in his experience, CNA reported. Chen said that after losing the 2018 Kaohsiung mayoral race he believed his political life was over, before two years as vice premier and a mayoral by-election win.
How does the launch connect to the year-end races? Candidate registration for the year-end local elections closed the same day, with Kuomintang New Taipei candidate Lee Szu-chuan registering alongside Mayor Hou You-yi, the Liberty Times reported. Su said Kaohsiung had shown that "six years really can change a city" and that she would learn from Chen's "kin kin kin" spirit: "Not only is Kaohsiung kin kin kin, New Taipei will charge even harder." Chen said his campaigning would begin the next day with Su, whose campaign headquarters was due to open then.
Figures referenced: Lai Ching-te. — JudgeMarket.
