Lin was born in Taipei City.[1] After graduating from Taipei Municipal Jianguo High School, Lin Chia-lung attended National Taiwan University (NTU), where he received his BA (1986) and MA (1988) in political science.[2] As a student representative at NTU, Lin was active in the NTU Society for the Study of Mainland China (臺大大陸問題研究社), and a participant in the "Love of Freedom" (自由之愛) campus free speech movement. Lin played a key role in pushing for the direct election of the student council chairman by students, and was responsible for drafting the election plan proposed by students to the campus administration in 1984.[3][4]
Lin attended Yale University in the United States on a Fulbright scholarship from 1991 through 1994. He received master's degrees in philosophy (1992) and political science (1993), as well as a PhD in political science (1998). Returning to Taiwan after graduating from Yale, Lin served on the faculty of the political science department at National Chung Cheng University as an assistant professor from 1999 through 2004.[2] His research interests include the democratization of Taiwan[broken anchor], as well as the political and economic development of the People's Republic of China, and has written several books on the subjects.[5][6]
Political career
In the early 2000s, he served in various capacities in the Executive Yuan under DPP President Chen Shui-bian.[7][8] Lin was appointed as an advisor to the National Security Council in 2000, and to the position of cabinet spokesman in 2003.[9] Lin represented the government position in a debate against Legislator Kao Chin Su-mei, where he argued in favor of arms procurements which would be submitted to referendum the following year.[10]
Due to his performance as cabinet spokesman, Lin was appointed director of the Government Information Office (GIO) by President Chen Shui-bian following his reelection in 2004.[11] In January 2005, Lin authorized a GIO program encouraging donations to provide financial support for orphans of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.[12] Controversy over the program later arose in August 2005, five months after Lin had left GIO, surrounding the delay in disbursing NT$400 million in donations to various charities and NGOs. Media reports suggesting that the program had been neglected in the transition between Lin and his successor at GIO, Pasuya Yao were denied by GIO, which promised the funds would be disbursed by September 5.[13]
Lin resigned from his position as GIO director in March 2005 to run as DPP candidate for mayor of Taichung City.[14] In the ensuing elections held in December 2005, Lin lost against incumbent Mayor Jason Hu by 87,075 votes (19.3%).[15] In 2014 Lin ran again against Hu and won by a landslide margin, over 200,000 votes.[16]
Lin was appointed DPP Secretary-General in January 2006, and Deputy Secretary-General to the President in October 2007.[2]
Lin was re-nominated as the mayoral candidate in November 2017.[21] He was defeated by KMT candidate Lu Shiow-yen.
Post-mayoralty career
Lin succeeded Wang Kwo-tsai on 14 January 2019 who was acting Minister of Transportation and Communications. He resigned on 4 April 2021 in the aftermath of the Hualien train derailment which killed at least 49 people,[22] stating that he would take full political responsibility for the crash and will leave once the rescue work ends.[23][24]
After Lo Chih-cheng [zh] decided not to contest the New Taipei mayoralty in July 2022,[27] the DPP selected Lin as its candidate for the post.[28] Lin lost to then-deputy mayor Hou Yu-ih in a landslide defeat in the general election.[29]
^"林佳龍深夜發文首曝辭職歷程:不戀棧、內心極痛楚自責" ["Will not cling on power; very heartbroken and sorry": Lin Chia-Lung's midnight Facebook post revealed the unfolding of his resignation]. 聯合新聞網 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 2021-04-04. Retrieved 2021-04-04.