TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative caucus, led by Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘), has launched a mass recall campaign targeting legislators from the Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP).
Civic groups across Taiwan have started canvassing for signatures, with more planning to initiate recall petitions after the Lunar New Year holiday, UDN reported. Campaigns are already underway in Kaohsiung and Taichung, targeting sitting legislators.
The mass recall effort comes after activist groups began targeting KMT legislators in December. Ker Chien-ming endorsed the strategy in January as a last-ditch effort to regain control of the Legislative Yuan. The move followed controversial legislation passed by the KMT-controlled legislature, targeting the Constitutional Court, the central government budget, and the election recall act.
The DPP’s campaign aims to unseat 41 sitting legislators, including Legislative Yuan Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜). However, some party leaders, including DPP Chairman Lin You-chang (林右昌), have expressed concern about the risks of such a large-scale recall effort, according to UDN.
President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) has not explicitly supported the campaign but acknowledged that citizens have the right to hold their representatives accountable. Earlier in January, Executive Yuan Spokesperson Li Hui-chih (李慧芝) stated that the government respects the public’s decision to exercise their rights, CNA reported.
The KMT is reportedly planning a counter-recall campaign targeting 38 DPP legislators. On Saturday, KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) called for the recall of DPP legislators Asenay Daliyalrep (陳瑩) and Saidhai Tahovecahe (伍麗華), who represent Indigenous constituencies in Taiwan, CTI reported.