TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – After one hour of counting in Saturday’s recall voting, early trends indicated a lead in favor of most of the 24 KMT lawmakers.

While media have reported slightly diverging results so far, the overall trend saw votes against the recall. Exceptions included Yeh Yuan-chih (葉元之) in New Taipei and Lo Ting-wei (羅廷瑋) in Taichung, per CNA.

One of the most bitterly fought campaigns centered on KMT Caucus Whip Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁). He served as Hualien County chief before being elected to the Legislative Yuan, with his wife now heading the county government. Early trends showed him surviving the recall.

Social activists launched the recall campaigns after the DPP and its supporters accused opposition parties of misusing their legislative majority to obstruct government policies and push through measures favorable to China. The KMT and the smaller TPP claimed the government of President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) misused the recalls to muzzle the opposition.

In the Legislative Yuan, the KMT is the largest party with 52 seats, while the DPP holds 51 and the TPP eight seats. Two independents generally lean toward the KMT. Lawmakers who survive a recall can serve out their term until the end of January 2028 without fear of a second recall.

Recall votes about the fate of seven other KMT lawmakers have been scheduled for Aug. 23. The same day, people all over the country will have the opportunity to vote in a referendum about nuclear energy.

Separately, voters in Hsinchu City cast their ballots Saturday in the proposed recall of suspended Mayor Kao Hung-an (高虹安), who was elected as a Taiwan People’s Party candidate in 2022.