TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Thirteen additional Kuomintang (KMT) legislators have met the first-stage requirements for recall petitions, according to local election commissions.

As the recall movement gained momentum, 22 proposals had already passed the first-stage review before these latest 13, with 19 targeting KMT lawmakers. Other petitions focus on suspended Hsinchu Mayor Kao Hung-an (高虹安), Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Nantou County Councilor Tsai Ming-hsuan (蔡銘軒), and Councilor Cheng Yu-ling (陳玉鈴), per CNA.

Meanwhile, recall petitions against DPP legislators Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶), Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤), and Chen Ying (陳瑩) failed to meet the necessary number of valid signatures due to a high number of invalid submissions. The Central Election Commission (CEC) will carry out the final review.

The most recent KMT legislators to meet the threshold include Lin Te-fu (林德福), Chang Chih-lun (張智倫), Yang Chiung-ying (楊瓊瓔), Hung Mong-kai (洪孟楷), Lo Ming-tsai (羅明才), Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯), Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆), Liao Hsien-hsiang (廖先翔), Hsu Hsin-ying (徐欣瑩), Lin Szu-ming (林思銘), Chiang Chi-chen (江啟臣), Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強), and Hsieh Yi-fong (謝衣鳯).

Recall movement gains traction

The recall drive intensified in December after KMT and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) lawmakers approved a government budget that cut NT$207.5 billion (US$6.3 billion) from the Cabinet's original proposal. In response, DPP caucus leader Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) spearheaded efforts to recall 41 KMT legislators. KMT supporters launched counter-recalls against four DPP lawmakers in KMT-leaning districts.

Recall groups rushed to submit petitions before amendments to the Public Officials Election and Recall Act took effect on Feb. 20. The CEC received 64 recall proposals by Feb. 19.

Under the new rules, recall petitioners must provide copies of their national ID cards. Supporters say the measure strengthens verification, while critics argue it complicates the recall process.

Taiwan's 2025 recall process

Phase 1: Proposal

• A recall requires a proposal from voters in the elected official's district.
• At least 1% of registered voters in the district must support the proposal.
• The CEC has 25 days to verify the list of proposers.

Phase 2: Petition

• Petitioners must collect signatures from at least 10% of eligible voters within 60 days.
• Proposers cannot sign the petition themselves.
• If approved, the recall moves to the voting stage.
• The recall target has 10 days to submit a defense statement.

Phase 3: Vote

• The recall vote must be held within 20 to 60 days after the process is officially established.
• A recall is successful if:
  • More valid “yes” votes are cast than “no” votes.
  • The “yes” votes total at least one-quarter of all eligible voters in the district.

Consequences of a successful recall

• The official is removed from office immediately.
• They cannot run for the same position in the same district for four years.
• A by-election must be held within three months unless a legal challenge delays the process.
• If a recall fails, no new recall can be proposed for the same official during their current term.