Voters in Taiwan on Saturday overwhelmingly rejected a recall effort aimed at removing 24 opposition lawmakers from the Nationalist Party of China, also known as the Kuomintang (KMT), delivering a major political setback to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
The failed recalls, initiated by civic groups aligned with the DPP, were part of a broader attempt to shift the balance of power in the Legislative Yuan and break the current political deadlock. The campaign targeted KMT lawmakers accused of obstructing key legislation, promoting policies deemed overly conciliatory toward mainland China, and weakening the authority of the executive branch.
Preliminary results showed all 24 recall votes failed by wide margins within the lawmakers’ respective constituencies, signaling strong local support for the embattled legislators.
The political stalemate began following Taiwan’s January 2024 legislative elections, when the KMT secured a surprise victory, gaining 14 seats to become the largest party in the 113-member Legislative Yuan with 52 seats. The ruling DPP lost its majority, dropping to 51 seats. The Taiwan People’s Party, which secured 8 seats, has generally aligned with the KMT, giving the opposition bloc effective control of the legislature.
The DPP-backed recall campaign needed only six successful removals to shift the balance of power. Its failure now ensures that opposition control will likely continue through the next legislative cycle, with the next elections not scheduled until 2028.
President Lai Ching-te and the DPP have adopted an increasingly assertive stance on Taiwanese identity and autonomy, advocating for greater separation from mainland China. By contrast, the KMT and the Taiwan People’s Party favor maintaining the current status quo—upholding Taiwan’s de facto independence while preserving cultural and economic ties with Beijing to maintain regional stability.
While another round of recall votes targeting seven additional KMT lawmakers is scheduled for August 23, the outcome of Saturday’s ballots suggests that any further efforts to reshape the legislature through recall initiatives are unlikely to succeed.
The results present a significant hurdle for President Lai’s legislative agenda, which will remain largely obstructed unless the DPP can regain a majority in the next round of elections in 18 months.