TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — DPP spokesperson Tai Wei-shan (戴瑋姍) said Tuesday the party will continue to play a supporting role in the ongoing recall campaign, allowing grassroots civil groups to lead the effort.
Tai was responding to reports that President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) had instructed DPP factions to refrain from discussing potential by-elections, per Newtalk. She clarified that while Lai did not give specific directives regarding the recall campaign or any resulting by-elections, the DPP would maintain a supportive but non-leading stance.
DPP Legislator Lin Chun-hsien (林俊憲) emphasized that the party’s internal consensus is to prioritize the grassroots recall groups in both the current recall efforts and any potential by-elections, per CNEWS. He added that the party’s main role should be to help shift the balance of power in the legislature.
Legislator Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤) echoed Lin’s view, confirming that Lai had indeed asked party members to avoid public discussion of possible by-elections and instead focus on supporting the recall process, per Tai Sounds. Wu said the recall campaign should not be viewed as a partisan contest, but rather as a reflection of Taiwan’s civil society expressing its will.
On Sunday, Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation Chair You Ying-lung (游盈隆) described the third phase of the recall campaign as the most significant, per ETtoday. He warned that with figures like KMT Legislator Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) actively opposing the recalls, KMT lawmakers may need to engage more fully to avoid losing their seats.
While the outcome remains uncertain, You predicted that the results will have a meaningful impact on the balance of power within the Legislative Yuan.
Prominent KMT member Chang Ya-chung (張亞中) also commented on his party’s poor performance in countering the recall effort, per Liberty Times. He criticized the KMT’s strategic and tactical approach and its failure to mobilize enough voter support.
Chang called for party leadership to conduct an internal review and propose reforms to better energize the party base.
