TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Central Election Commission announced it received 47 recall proposals as of 5 p.m. on Monday.
On Feb. 3, proposals were submitted targeting Kuomintang caucus convener Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁), suspended Hsinchu City Mayor Kao Hung-an (高虹安), and 18 KMT lawmakers. On Monday, 12 additional recall groups submitted proposals against a dozen more KMT legislators, per CNA.
A recall proposal is the first step in Taiwan’s recall process, where a small percentage of voters formally suggest removing an elected official. If the proposers' list is validated, the process moves to the petition stage, where more signatures are required to trigger a recall vote.
Of the 47 proposals, 44 target lawmakers, one seeks the recall of a city or county mayor, and two are aimed at city or county councilors.
The recalls are part of a broader political wave that has swept Taiwan in recent months. The movement gained traction in December after lawmakers from the KMT and Taiwan People’s Party approved a central government budget that slashed NT$207.5 billion (US$6.29 billion) from the Cabinet’s original proposal.
In response, Democratic Progressive Party caucus leader Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) led efforts to recall 41 KMT legislators. Meanwhile, KMT supporters launched counter-recalls against four DPP lawmakers in KMT-leaning districts.
Recently, recall proposals were also submitted for DPP legislators, including Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤), Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶), Su Chiao-hui (蘇巧慧), and Wu Chi-ming (吳琪銘).
Taiwan's 2025 recall process
- Phase 1
Proposals from people in the district where the official was elected are needed to start a recall of an elected official. The number of proposals must be at least 1% of the area's total voters.
Once submitted, the CEC has 25 days to verify the list of proposers.
- Phase 2
A recall petition must gather signatures from at least 10% of the voters within 60 days. Proposers cannot sign as petitioners.
After a recall proposal is approved, the process moves to the voting stage. The date for a recall vote will be announced within five days after the defense period ends.
The recall target has 10 days to submit a defense statement.
- Phase 3
The recall vote must be held within 20 to 60 days after the recall is officially established.
According to Article 90 of the current “Public Officials Election and Recall Act,” a recall vote is successful if:
- The number of valid “yes” votes exceeds the number of “no” votes
- The “yes” votes must also be at least one-quarter of the total voters in the original election district
Consequences and restrictions following a successful recall
If a recall is successful, the official being recalled must cease their duties starting from the day the recall results are announced. The official cannot run for the same job in the same area for the next four years, with the same rule applied if the official resigns during the recall process.
If the official’s position is empty after the recall, an election must be held within three months. If the recall is challenged in court, the election will be delayed until the legal case ends.
To avoid recall misuse, if a recall fails, no one can propose a recall for the same official during their current term.
