Taiwan opposition parties unite for presidential election

ANKARA

Taiwan's two key opposition parties on Wednesday agreed to field joint presidential and vice presidential candidates in the 2024 presidential election.

The Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) reached the agreement to determine joint candidates for the two posts through public polls, after months of deadlock, a local daily reported.

The agreement came after a two-hour meeting between KMT presidential nominee Hou Yu-ih and TPP chairman and presidential nominee Ko Wen-je, and other senior officials from the two parties.

Although a joint statement issued after the meeting said poll results would determine the joint candidates for the presidential election slated for Jan. 13 next year, it was unclear how polls would be weighed and the results would be determined.

The poll results will be announced on Nov. 18.

Following that, the two parties will form a joint campaign committee to campaign for the joint presidential and vice-presidential candidates, as well as legislative candidates recommended by both parties.

The incumbent Vice President Lai Ching-te, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) presidential candidate, has almost consistently led opinion polls.