The Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) and the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) are to hold their first round of talks on forming an alliance ahead of next year’s general election tomorrow, TPP Chairman Ko Wen-je’s (柯文哲) office said yesterday.
Ko’s campaign spokesman Tai Yu-wen (戴于文) confirmed that a meeting was scheduled to take place at 2:30pm at the Taipei Howard Plaza Hotel.
Ko’s campaign chief of staff Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) and campaign manager Vincent Chou (周榆修) are to join KMT Secretary-General Justin Huang (黃健庭) and King Pu-tsung (金溥聰), executive officer at the office of KMT presidential candidate and New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜), Tai said.
Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei Times
Ko’s team hopes the meeting would focus on issues related to transparency, public debates and fair polling that would be necessary for a joint ticket, he said.
Polling is the most accountable method for designating the presidential and vice presidential candidates, should Ko and Hou join forces, Tai said, adding that deciding the matter based on approval ratings would also help the duo retain the support of their base.
A video recording of the event would be made and the two sides might hold a news conference following the meeting, he said.
In response to a request for comment on business tycoon and independent candidate Terry Gou’s (郭台銘) absence from the proceedings, KMT Legislator Jessica Chen (陳玉珍) said she believed her party would reach out to Gou after securing an alliance with Ko.
Gou said he has collected enough signatures to be on the ballot and commands about 10 percent of the vote, which could be the decisive margin against Vice President William Lai (賴清德), who is running as the Democratic Progressive Party’s presidential candidate, she said.
Asked what position Gou would occupy in an opposition alliance, Chen said the KMT seems to believe that allying with Ko gives the party the highest chance of winning, despite her personal view that Gou is the best suited for leadership.
“If the party is willing to let Ko be the presidential candidate, then it should have given the nomination to Gou earlier,” she said.
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