Taiwan opposition bid to field joint presidential candidate falls flat

TAIPEI — Plans by Taiwan’s opposition to unite behind a single presidential candidate have been left in tatters as two parties feud over the interpretation of opinion polls used to pick a joint nominee.

The results of a poll-of-polls on a joint Kuomintang (KMT)-Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) presidential ticket were released on Saturday by a foundation headed by former President Ma Ying-jeou. The plan was that the winner between the KMT’s Hou Yu-ih and the TPP’s Ko Wen-je would become the opposition pick for presidential elections set for Jan. 13.