TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) on Friday reaffirmed his proposal for a vote of no confidence against the Cabinet, calling it a referendum on President Lai Ching-te (賴清德).
Chiang raised the idea during a KMT protest Thursday evening over the investigation into Taipei KMT officials. He revisited the protest on Friday, questioning why National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) has not been held accountable after authorities uncovered a 12-year-long Chinese Communist Party (CCP) spy operation allegedly conducted by Wu’s aide, per CNA.
In response, KMT Chair Eric Chu (朱立倫) said no tactic is off the table, per UDN. He emphasized that the party would consider all measures to uphold Taiwan’s democracy.
TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌), a key KMT ally, raised concerns about Chiang’s proposal, per CNA. He pointed out that a vote of no confidence targets the Cabinet, not Lai, who Huang believes is the core issue. He warned the move might give the DPP an opportunity to stage a political comeback.
TPP Legislator Chang Chi-kai (張啓楷) proposed synchronizing presidential and legislative elections as a more effective solution, per ETtoday. He also cautioned that a no-confidence vote would trigger a 60-day gap during which the executive would operate without legislative oversight.
DPP caucus leader Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) welcomed Chiang’s proposal, clarifying that his stance does not reflect personal support for Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), per Newtalk. Ker said the no-confidence vote would serve the same purpose as the ongoing recall campaigns.
He also framed the recall effort as aligned with US President Donald Trump’s anti-communist agenda, saying the US needs Taiwan to stand strong so Trump can confront China more effectively, per CNA.
Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation Chair You Ying-lung (游盈隆) praised Chiang’s initiative, per TVBS. He noted that although Chiang is not a legislator, limiting the proposal’s persuasiveness, it was still more constructive than Chu’s call to recall Lai.
Asked about the proposal, Cho said the Cabinet would not take an active position on the matter but questioned whether the public supports the opposition’s actions, per UpMedia.
