TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Following Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang’s (謝國樑) victory in the recall election, the Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) on Monday (Oct. 14) reiterated their push for changes to recall rules and cautioned the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) against pursuing further recall attempts.

KMT Legislator Hsu Yu-chen (許宇甄) said that the Legislative Yuan will vote on amendments to the Public Officials Election and Recall Act during this session. The proposed changes would require a copy of ID cards for future recall election petitions, aligning the process with those for referendums and presidential elections, per CNA.

TPP Caucus Leader Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) reaffirmed his party’s support for citizens exercising their civil rights while expressing concerns about potential abuse during the petition stage. Huang argued that the lack of authentication during the petition phase undermines its integrity, suggesting that names alone may not accurately reflect the intentions of petitioners.

He indicated that the outcome of Hsieh’s recall election serves as a warning to the DPP against further attempts, implying that voters prioritize concrete policies over political conflicts.

At a press conference, KMT Legislator Lin Szu-ming (林思銘) said that the people of Keelung have put a stop to the misuse of the recall process, characterizing Hsieh’s recall election as an effort to overturn electoral results and a waste of resources. He warned the DPP that if it continues targeting KMT officials with recall attempts, his party may respond in kind, per CNA.

National Taiwan University assistant politics professor Chen Shih-min (陳世民) noted that while Hsieh retained his position in a KMT stronghold, the DPP’s lack of direct involvement makes the turnout of 70,000 votes noteworthy. Both Huang and Lin interpreted the results as a rejection of the ongoing power struggle, which they believe is driven by the ruling party, per CNA.

When asked about the potential for a wave of recall elections next year, former National Taiwan Normal University politics professor Chu Chao-hsiang (曲兆祥) emphasized that avoiding such a scenario hinges on the relationship between the ruling party and the opposition. He pointed out that the KMT's majority in the legislature, combined with a narrow margin between its lawmakers and those of the DPP, makes every seat crucial in shifting the balance of power.

Chu expressed hope for more communication and reconciliation rather than a competitive dynamic between the two parties.