TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The DPP is considering a major tactical shift for the Aug. 23 recall elections following Saturday’s failed effort.
Facing seven KMT legislators in predominantly KMT-led municipalities, a DPP insider said the party will prioritize economic issues over anti-Chinese Communist Party rhetoric, per UP Media. The insider added the DPP plans to strengthen its ground game, as advertising has had a limited effect on undecided voters.
The same insider noted the Aug. 23 electorate skews older, meaning the party needs to deliver concrete policies, particularly in areas such as healthcare and long-term care. The insider said the previous recall campaign failed to offer compelling talking points or policy incentives.
On the grassroots front, support from small business owners has reportedly been lukewarm. Some business owners have said they will vote against the recall, citing dissatisfaction with the DPP’s response to shifting global dynamics, especially US tariff policies.
United Microelectronics Corporation founder Robert Tsao (曹興誠) criticized the DPP on Thursday for failing to take the initiative after recall groups completed the second-stage recall petition process, per NOWmedia. He suggested the DPP should have named potential by-election candidates and had them lead the campaign’s third phase.
DPP legislative caucus convener Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) echoed Tsao’s criticism, calling for the party to fully commit to the recall effort, per ETtoday.
A recent Z.Media poll asked respondents why they believed Saturday’s recall failed. The top four reasons cited were:
- Lack of legitimacy (16.1%)
- DPP opposition to KMT’s tax rebate proposal (14%)
- Poor performance by President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) (7.8%)
- The government’s inadequate recovery efforts following Typhoon Danas (6.7%)
Among DPP supporters, 29.1% cited the party’s opposition to KMT’s tax rebate proposal as the main reason for failure. Among KMT and TPP supporters, 26.8% and 23.7%, respectively, pointed to a lack of legitimacy.
Z.Media’s two-day poll, which closed on Tuesday, surveyed 1,074 Taiwanese adults nationwide and had a margin of error of roughly 3 percentage points.
