Beijing, Sep 14 (EFE).- Foxconn founder and Taiwan presidential aspirant Terry Gou on Thursday announced that his running mate for the January 2024 election would be actress Tammy Lai.

Lai, 60, is a veteran singer and actress who played the role of President Lin Yue-zheng in high-profile Netflix political drama "Wave Makers" which, according to local media, has been credited with sparking Taiwan's #MeToo movement.

At a morning press conference, 72-year-old Gou touted Lai's communication skills and said that her "female perspective" would provide a valuable approach to promoting gender equality, the island's news agency CNA reported.

However, due to his lack of party affiliation as an independent, Gou will have to obtain the signatures of at least 1.5 percent of the electorate (about 290,000 people) from the previous presidential election, between Sep. 19 and Nov. 2, to ensure his inclusion on the electoral ballot.

If Gou, considered by Forbes magazine as the sixth richest man in Taiwan thanks to a fortune of about $7.4 billion, meets the requirements, he will be officially considered a presidential candidate and will be able to begin his electoral campaign.

In the Jan. 13, 2024, election he would face the candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, Vice President Lai Ching-te, as well as New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih of the main opposition Kuomintang party.

Gou had run for the Kuomintang nomination to be its candidate for the 2020 presidential election, but was defeated by Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu. EFE

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