Taiwan elections: opposition parties to hold last-ditch talks on joint ticket as registration deadline looms

Wednesday’s talks could be the last chance to break the deadlock between the Kuomintang and Taiwan People’s Party on how to choose their candidate

The two parties agreed to cooperate after polls suggested a joint bid was the best chance to defeat the front runner, Vice-President William Lai

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KMT presidential candidate, Hou Yu-ih (left) will be present at Wednesday’s talks on the selection of a candidate. Photo: CNA

Published: 7:04pm, 14 Nov 2023Updated: 7:18pm, 14 Nov 2023

Taiwan’s two main opposition parties will hold another round of talks on Wednesday in what could be a last-ditch effort to iron out their differences over a joint challenge to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party in January’s presidential election.

The main opposition party Kuomintang and the smaller Taiwan People’s Party must work out a mutually acceptable method to pick their presidential candidate and his running mate by the end of this week.

The process of officially registering candidates will start next week, and all nominations must be submitted by next Friday.

On Tuesday, the two mainland-friendly parties issued a joint press notice, saying they would meet the following day to discuss the presidential ticket.

It said that former president Ma Ying-jeou had been invited to “serve as a witness” at the talks, which will be held behind closed doors at the offices of Ma’s foundation.

Others attending the talks include the TPP’s chairman and presidential candidate, Ko Wen-je, KMT chairman Eric Chu Li-luan and the party’s presidential candidate, Hou Yu-ih, the mayor of New Taipei, according to the TPP.