The mayor of Taipei is the chief executive of the municipal government of Taipei, a special municipality in Taiwan. The mayor represents the city and directs its administration under the Local Government Act. The office is filled by direct election for a four-year term, with eligibility for one consecutive re-election. As of October 15, 2026, the incumbent is Chiang Wan-an, who took office on December 25, 2022. (law.moj.gov.tw)
Powers and responsibilities
The mayor heads the executive branch of Taipei’s municipal administration. Under Article 55 of the Local Government Act, the mayor represents the municipality externally and administers its affairs. The mayor appoints deputy mayors and most senior departmental heads, although certain appointments—including those concerning personnel, accounting, police administration, and government ethics—are governed by separate statutory arrangements. (law.moj.gov.tw)
Municipal administration encompasses services such as education, public health, social welfare, environmental protection, urban planning, public works, and public transport. These responsibilities are distributed among city departments, offices, commissions, and related public bodies rather than exercised personally by the mayor. (www-ws.gov.taipei)
The mayor and the Taipei City Council have distinct institutional roles. The council is the municipal legislature, with powers that include passing local ordinances, reviewing the city budget, and questioning municipal officials. The mayor therefore leads the city administration but does not unilaterally determine all municipal laws or spending. (law.moj.gov.tw)
Historical development
Taipei acquired city status in 1920 during Japanese rule. Its mayoral history consequently spans several administrative systems, rather than a single uninterrupted system of elected local government. Following the establishment of the postwar city government in 1945, Taipei was administered as a provincial city. Popular mayoral elections were held during the provincial-city period, beginning in 1951. (english.gov.taipei)
A major institutional change occurred on July 1, 1967, when Taipei became a special municipality directly under the Executive Yuan. From 1967 to 1994, the mayor was appointed by the central government rather than elected by city voters. The earlier organizational framework provided for nomination through the Executive Yuan, consent from the city council, and presidential appointment. (history.ey.gov.tw)
Direct mayoral elections resumed in 1994 under the new statutory framework for special municipalities. The election took place on December 3, and Chen Shui-bian assumed office on December 25. This was the first direct mayoral election since Taipei’s elevation to special-municipality status—not the first popular mayoral election in the city’s history. (en.wikipedia.org)
Mayors since the restoration of direct elections
| Mayor | Period in office |
|---|---|
| Chen Shui-bian | 1994–1998 |
| [[ma-ying-jeou | Ma Ying-jeou]] |
| Hau Lung-bin | 2006–2014 |
| Ko Wen-je | 2014–2022 |
| Chiang Wan-an | Since December 25, 2022 |
These administrations form the succession of elected mayors following the restoration of direct elections in 1994. Chiang succeeded Ko at the municipal handover ceremony in December 2022. (en.wikipedia.org)
References
- Taipei City Government-Mayor-Chiang, Wan-Anenglish.gov.taipei
- Chiang Wan-an Takes Office as Mayor of Taipei Cityenglish.gov.taipei
- (A) To abide by self-governing laws and regulations.www-ws.gov.taipei
- Mayor Joins Former Mayors at Documentary Premiereenglish.gov.taipei
- 2009臺北年鑑封面英文www-ws.gov.taipei
- Great - 行政院珍貴史料展示history.ey.gov.tw
- 1994 Taiwanese local electionsen.wikipedia.org
- Mayor of Taipeien.wikipedia.org