Campaigners submit recall vote proposals for 20 opposition politicians

Taipei, Feb. 3 (CNA) Campaign groups have submitted 20 recall vote proposals to Taiwan's Central Election Commission (CEC) that target 19 Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers and one currently suspended Taiwan People's Party (TPP) city mayor, the CEC confirmed on Monday.

According to Taiwan's Public Officials Election and Recall Act, lawmakers may be removed from office if more than half of at least 25 percent of eligible voters in their electoral district cast ballots in favor of a recall.

The 19 lawmakers now potentially facing recall votes include high-profile opposition figures such as KMT legislative caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) and veteran lawmaker Wang Hung-wei (王鴻薇).

The other 17 KMT lawmakers are Lee Yen-hsiu (李彥秀), Yeh Yuan-chih (葉元之), Niu Hsu-ting (牛煦庭), Tu Chuan-chi (涂權吉), Lu Ming-che (魯明哲), Wan Mei-ling (萬美玲), Lu Yu-ling (呂玉玲), Chiu Jo-hua (邱若華), Cheng Cheng-chien (鄭正鈐), Yu Hao (游顥), Yen Kuan-heng (顏寬恒), Liao Wei-hsiang (廖偉翔), Huang Chien-hao (黃健豪), Lo Ting-wei (羅廷瑋), Ting Hsueh-chung (丁學忠), Huang Chien-pin (黃建賓) and Ma Wen-chun (馬文君).

Kao Hung-an (高虹安) of the TPP, who served as mayor of Hsinchu City until she was suspended over corruption charges in July 2024, also faces a potential recall vote.

The election commission said it would conduct an initial review of the recall vote proposals and, if approved, forward them to local election committees for review.

The commission also stated that the election recall proposals would be handled "without discrimination" according to the current version of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act, noting that Article 131 clarifies that "provisions in effect prior to [any] amendment shall apply."

According to the CEC's website, for a proposal to be valid, it must be backed by more than 1 percent of the total number of eligible voters from the relevant district. Campaigners must then collect signatures from at least 10 percent of eligible voters within 60 days before a recall vote may take place.

The recall vote proposals were submitted by 19 campaign groups on the earliest possible day following the Lunar New Year holiday, given that Article 75 of the Act requires lawmakers must have served at least one year in office before being eligible for a recall vote.

The campaigners who went to the CEC's office in Taipei on Monday included former chairman of Taiwanese chipmaker United Microelectronics Corp. Robert Tsao (曹興誠) and Taiwanese Youtuber Pa Chiung (八炯), both of whom have alleged that KMT politicians have worked with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to undermine the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Taiwan's Legislature.

Speaking outside the CEC, Tsao told reporters that the submission of recall vote proposals was "not a confrontation between the blue and green camps," referring to colors respectively associated with the KMT and DPP.

"The real issue is whether to choose to oppose communism and protect Taiwan or to support communism and sell out Taiwan," Tsao said, adding that the campaigns represent a "battle of democracy against autocracy."

During a news conference held at the Legislative Yuan, KMT legislative caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) called on President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) to "restrain" DPP legislative caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘), who in early January had advocated for recall campaigns against 41 opposition lawmakers.

Also speaking at the KMT news conference, KMT lawmaker Wang Hung-wei (王鴻薇) described the recall vote attempts as "indiscriminate" and said that her party "respects the democratic process" but "doesn't want to see social division, or confrontation between the government and the opposition."

At a separate press event held in KMT party headquarters in Taipei, KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) echoed comments he had made in January on the issue of potential recall votes, saying that his party "does not seek war, nor is it afraid of war."

"When necessary, [the KMT] will use war to end war," Chu said, without explaining what that meant. "That is the KMT's determination."

Meanwhile, at a DPP news conference on Monday, DPP legislative caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) said that the current legislative session, which began on the same day, would be a "recall vote session" because "both sides have launched large-scale recall votes."

"The large-scale recall vote action was initiated by the KMT," Ker said, without elaborating. "The DPP is just responding."

The CEC has not announced any recall vote proposals targeting DPP lawmakers for this legislative session.

The recall votes will be completed by Sept. 1 at the latest, Ker said, adding that "the KMT will undoubtedly be defeated."