TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Democratic Progressive Party caucus convener Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) defended himself Wednesday amid growing calls for his resignation after the failed recall campaign against Kuomintang legislators.

Longtime recall critic and DPP Legislator Wang Shi-chien (王世堅) publicly called for Ker to step down, per Storm Media. Ker responded by quoting the Chinese poem “The Quadrant of the Seven Steps” to describe internal party strife, framing his support for the recall as a strategic effort to regain a legislative majority. He urged colleagues to refocus on post-typhoon recovery and the challenges of new US tariffs.

Several DPP lawmakers have voiced frustration since Saturday’s failed recall vote. Legislator Kuo Kuo-wen (郭國文) accused Ker of suppressing dissent, while Legislator Lin Shu-fen (林淑芬) said the caucus had become a shield for unpopular Cabinet members, per UDN.

Others defended Ker. Former Legislator Cheng Yun-peng (鄭運鵬) warned against being overly harsh, stressing that party headquarters cannot force the caucus to replace its convener, per UP Media. Former legislator Hsieh Hsin-ni (謝欣霓) questioned claims Ker acted like a dictator, arguing that DPP lawmakers with deep local roots would not allow such overreach. She added that the caucus convener role is largely thankless, and legislative ineffectiveness was a key factor driving the recall effort, per ETtoday.

Political commentator Huang Yang-ming (黃揚明) said Ker is being scapegoated so President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) can deflect blame, noting that insiders understand Ker is someone who executes orders rather than sets strategy, per Storm Media.

New Power Party Chair Wang Wan-yu (王婉諭) also urged Ker to resign, arguing it would help salvage the DPP’s public image, per CNA. She criticized the party’s past tendency to steamroll the opposition when in the majority and its recent shift to obstructionism in the minority, saying this contributed to the DPP’s 2024 electoral defeats. Ker countered by telling Wang not to meddle in the DPP’s internal affairs.

Former DPP Legislative Caucus Director Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤) called for a systemic review rather than singling out any one individual, per Newtalk.

Meanwhile, DPP Legislator Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌), seen as a possible successor, declined to comment on taking over, per Liberty Times. He stressed that Ker intends to serve out his full term.