Shanghai, China, Aug 28 (EFE).- Tycoon Terry Gou, founder of the Foxconn technology company, announced Monday he would run as an independent in the January 2024 presidential elections in Taiwan, state news agency CNA reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gou, 72, is considered by Forbes magazine as the sixth richest man in Taiwan with a fortune of about $7.4 billion and was one of the favorites to be named candidate of the main Kumintang opposition party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The nationalist party nominated the mayor of New Taipei City, Hou Yu-ih, as its presidential candidate in May, after which Gou accepted the decision and promised to support the campaign to “get rid of this incompetent government.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, a few weeks ago Gou proposed a front of opposition parties against the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which will present current Vice President Lai Ching-te to the presidential elections, in which current island leader Tsai Ing- wen cannot aspire to a third term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After announcing his intentions to present himself as an independent, Gou must now officially request it and, in the following 45 days, obtain the signatures of at least 1.5 percent of the electorate of the last legislative elections, equivalent to some 290,000 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gou had already tried to be the KMT candidate for the 2020 presidential elections, but was defeated by Han Kuo-yu. EFE <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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