TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Seven-term KMT Legislator Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆) is facing mounting internal and external pressure amid an intensifying recall campaign in Taipei, even as support for similar efforts wanes elsewhere in Taiwan.
Lai’s heightened involvement in local events may signal concern about his political survival, per Tai Sounds. Though he represents a traditionally KMT-leaning district, a source close to recall groups said Lai’s unwillingness to pass the torch to younger generations could alienate longtime supporters.
The source added that fellow KMT Legislator Lee Yen-hsiu (李彥秀) faces similar risks, while Lo Chih-chiang’s (羅智強) strong media presence may insulate him from recall.
Lo cited recent polling showing most voters oppose recalling him. However, among voters likely to participate, the margin is narrower, per Storm Media. He warned that low turnout among opponents could allow recall supporters to prevail, as long as the campaign mobilizes enough “yes” votes.
Former Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) echoed those concerns, noting that the DPP has a solid 30% support base in Taipei, per UDN. Given that recall elections require turnout of 25% of eligible voters, Hau said that 80% turnout for pro DPP voters could be enough to prevail.
A June 17 Mirror Media poll showed that while most KMT lawmakers in Taipei face more opposition to recalls than support, except for Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯), the trend reverses among high-propensity voters.
More recent data from Z.Media, cited by political commentator Huang Wei-han (黃暐瀚), showed that 38.7% of likely voters now oppose the recalls, compared to 27.1% in support, per ETtoday.
Nationwide, recall efforts appear to be losing momentum. A Formosa poll released Sunday found that while Taipei remains a stronghold for the recall movement, with 45.1% saying DPP legislative control would be beneficial, 48.1% of respondents nationally view it as detrimental, per ETtoday.
Citing support for recall campaign in Taipei, former DPP lawmaker Lin Cho-shui (林濁水) argued the campaign could still regain traction, per Storm Media. The Formosa poll also indicated that while 34.9% of respondents believe the recall could strengthen Taiwan’s resistance to the Chinese Communist Party, 33% worry it would weaken the opposition’s ability to check the ruling party.
