The heads of both Taiwan’s ruling and opposition parties embarked on day-long, nationwide campaign tours Friday in the final run-up to municipal elections. The elections, scheduled for Saturday, will be the largest in Taiwan’s history, both in terms of the number of positions filled and the number of candidates.
President Ma Ying-jeou, who also serves as chairman of the ruling Kuomintang (KMT), began his tour in Pingtung County in the far south of Taiwan. He also made appearances in Kaohsiung and Tainan, campaigning for ruling KMT candidates in the traditionally pro-opposition south.
Ma then traveled to Keelung in the far north of the country, his fourth visit to the city in a week. Ma then proceeded to Taoyuan, Taichung and New Taipei City before a final night time rally for Sean Lien, the KMT’s candidate for Taipei mayor.
Meanwhile, the head of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Tsai Ing-wen, focused her campaign on several counties in central and southern Taiwan. Early in the day, she said that the DPP will not give up its efforts to win votes in any county or city. In the evening, Tsai attended rallies in New Taipei City and Changhua County.