TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Central Election Commission said recall campaigns against eight DPP legislators gained enough support to pass the first of three stages on Friday.
CNA reported that campaigners targeting the removal of legislators, including DPP Caucus Secretary-General Wu Tzu-yao (吳思瑤), submitted the documents requested by the commission at the first attempt. In addition to Wu, recall campaigns against the following DPP lawmakers progressed:
- Saidhai Tahovecahe (伍麗華)
- Asenay Daliyalrep (陳瑩)
- Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶)
- Su Chiao-hui (蘇巧慧)
- Chang Hung-lu (張宏陸)
- Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌)
- Ho Hsin-chun (何欣純)
The commission said campaigners missed deadlines to submit additional materials needed to progress recalls against Wang Mei-hui (王美惠) and Chen Kuan-ting (陳冠廷). The commission is reviewing documents submitted for recall campaigns against seven other DPP lawmakers.
In response to the commission's announcement, DPP Spokesperson Han Ying (韓瑩) said the party will do everything it can to protect the legislators. Han said this support means the DPP will not lose any seats.
The commission said 43 recall campaigns have now progressed or received enough support to progress to the second stage. Under the electoral law, recalls occur in three stages.
First, 1% of an official’s constituents must support the recall. If this threshold is met, petitioners have 60 days to gather support from 10% of constituents. Once that requirement is fulfilled, the recall proceeds to a vote.
The mass recall movement grew after opposition lawmakers used their majority to pass contested budget cuts and laws. The DPP launched the first wave of recalls against opposition parties with the support of civil groups and billionaire Robert Tsao (曹興誠).
The KMT and its supporters responded with recall campaigns against the DPP. Recall campaigns target both parties' elected officials and a suspended TPP mayor.
