TAIPEI (TVBS News) — An online poll conducted by local Chinese-language media United Daily News has seen significant support for the collaborative "Hou-Ko" candidate ticket in the upcoming Taiwan presidential election.
As of Thursday morning (Nov. 16), around 320,000 people had cast votes, with around 70%, or 227,462, favoring Kuomintang (KMT) candidate Hou Yu-ih as the presidential candidate over Taiwan People's Party's (TPP) Ko Wen-je at 70% to 25%.
Conducted over a 15-day period, the poll allowed votes on a daily basis. A coalition between the KMT and the TPP a day earlier, cemented under the observation of former president Ma Ying-jeou, resulted in an agreement over six points, formalizing their partnership.
The collaboration aims to rally opposition strength under the presidential candidate with the highest support, as determined by polls and formally announced by the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation. The results come from an assessment of public polls, along with additional internal polls provided by the KMT and the TPP, conducted between Nov.7 and Nov.17.
These results are set to be publicized by the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation on the morning of Nov. 18.
Both parties will then form a campaign committee to endorse their presidential and vice presidential candidates and recommended legislative candidates.
Under Ma Ying-jeou's witness, the KMT and TPP pledged to establish a joint government to create a model for Taiwan's third wave of democratic reform.
Besides national defense, foreign affairs, and cross-strait issues, which will be determined by the president, other government departments will be able to make decisions based on each party's legislative seats.
