TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Central Election Commission Chair Li Chin-yung (李進勇) said Thursday that all recall petitions to be reviewed on June 20 may have their respective elections scheduled between July 10 and Aug. 19.
Li said the CEC is processing 26 recall petition submissions, all of which are scheduled for review on June 20, per UDN. According to the law, recall elections must take place 20 to 60 days after a petition clears the second phase, meaning the elections would fall on a Saturday within that window.
To reduce administrative costs, Li said the commission would recommend holding all qualifying recall elections on the same day.
Responding to speculation that elections could be held on July 26, Li confirmed the date falls within the legally permissible window, though no final decision has been made.
The date was first suggested by DPP Caucus Convener Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) on May 30, per ETtoday. While criticizing the opposition for what he called an illegal expansion of legislative powers, Ker speculated that recall elections would likely be scheduled for July 26 or Aug. 23.
Opposition lawmakers quickly seized on Ker’s comments. KMT Legislator Wang Hung-wei (王鴻薇) on May 31 accused the election commission of potentially leaking dates to Ker and called for a prosecutorial investigation, per CNA. Ker responded that his statement was merely based on analysis of the government’s available scheduling window.
Ker reiterated that July 26 is the most probable date, with Aug. 23 being the latest viable option.
In response, the CEC emphasized that Ker’s comments remain speculation, per PNN. The election commission said that the only confirmed date for a vote is the national referendum on nuclear energy, which is set for Aug. 23.
