Candidates from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and opposition Kuomintang and People First Party will contest the upcoming ROC (Taiwan) presidential race, according to the Central Election Commission Nov. 22.
The DPP’s Tsai Ing-wen will seek a second term. She is the first woman to hold the country’s highest office after winning 6.89 million votes, or 56.12 percent, in the 2016 election.
Running mate Lai Ching-te was premier from 2017 to 2019; mayor of Tainan City in southern Taiwan, 2010 to 2017; and a legislator, 1999 to 2010.
The KMT’s Han Kuo-yu, mayor of Kaohsiung City in southern Taiwan and a legislator from 1993 to 2002, is the main challenger. His vice presidential pick, Chang San-cheng, was premier from February 2016 to May 2016 and minister of science and technology from March 2014 to December 2014.
PFP Chairman James Soong, governor of Taiwan Province from 1993 to 1998 and head of the defunct Government Information Office from 1979 to 1984, will run a fourth time as presidential candidate. His running mate is Sandra Yu, former chairwoman of local advertising firm United Communications Group.
According to the CEC, 647 candidates will compete for 113 seats in the Legislative Yuan. In January 2016, the DPP claimed 68 seats to become the majority party for the first time followed by KMT, 35; New Power Party, 5; PFP, 3; Non-Partisan Solidarity Union, 1; and independent, 1.
The presidential and legislative elections are set for Jan. 11, 2020. (SFC-E)
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