Polls Are Open as Taiwan’s President Tries to Fend Off Primary Challenger

President Tsai Ing-wen is locked in a fierce primary battle with her former premier, William Lai. Polling companies in Taiwan are making calls to landlines and cell phones to determine whether President Tsai Ing-wen will see off an unprecedented primary challenge from her former premier, William Lai.

A public opinion poll began on Tuesday to ask 15,000 voters, regardless of party affiliation, to choose the presidential nominee of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) by indicating their preferences in hypothetical head-to-head matchups with two leading opposition candidates, Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu of the Kuomintang (KMT) and independent Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je. A party official said Tuesday the result of the poll is expected to be announced on Thursday afternoon.

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