TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The countdown is on for Taiwan's presidential election. With the race heating up and less than 70 days to go, the spotlight is on an unprecedented lineup of candidates.
Since 1990, this is the first election with more than 3 contenders vying for the presidency.
Among the four eager candidates are the Democratic Progressive Party's Lai Ching-te, the Kuomintang's Hou Yu-ih, the Taiwan People's Party's Ko Wen-je, and the independent Terry Gou, whose entrepreneurial background sets him apart.
Terry Gou, as an independent force, met and overcame the challenges of selecting a running mate and collecting over 289,000 signatures by early November, with Tammy Lai joining his ticket in mid-September and the signatures submitted right on time.
Next on the agenda, the Central Election Commission is tasked with announcing the verified candidates by mid-November, with the official registration window slated for later this month.
Ahead of the deadline, the fractured opposition, (which includes Gou, the KMT, and the TPP) has ignited talks of potential alliances, pondering whether unity could be their strength against the ruling DPP.
The possibility of collaboration still hangs in the air as the three opposition leaders weigh the prospects of teaming up, knowing full well the stakes of either leading or supporting in this political dance.
Terry Gou's supporters are also torn, divided between championing his presidential run and endorsing a tactical alliance with the TPP.
Supporters hopeful for a partnership are banking on Gou's acumen to bolster Ko's campaign, whether in a supporting role or behind the scenes in policy formulation, particularly to spur Taiwan's economic growth.
Yet, Gou faces a delicate balance, considering the implications of his candidacy, especially with China's swift response to his political aspirations affecting his business interests.
Speculation is rife about the potential alliances, with a Gou-Ko partnership seen as a strong possibility, just as a TPP-KMT alliance could be on the cards.
If Gou's to emerge victorious, aligning with the TPP could be key, albeit with significant adjustments for his running mate, Tammy Lai.
Meanwhile, the KMT isn't sitting idle, striving to forge a pact with the TPP, though a mutual agreement remains elusive.
Time is ticking, and with candidate registration just around the corner, Gou's window to solidify his political strategy is narrowing.
The pressure is mounting for him to make a decisive move or risk losing his foothold in the race.
