Taiwan's democracy on the line ahead of key KMT recall votes: Robert Tsao

Taipei, July 25 (CNA) "Taiwan will move toward a brighter future by voting out the Kuomintang (KMT)," retired tech tycoon and political donor Robert Tsao (曹興誠) said Friday night as recall supporters rallied outside the Legislative Yuan in Taipei.

Tsao, one of the most prominent figures backing the recall effort, made a final appeal on the eve of public votes that will determine whether 24 KMT lawmakers are removed from office.

He criticized the KMT for attacking the civic groups leading the recall campaign and accused the party of pushing a Beijing-aligned agenda.

Although Tsao said recalls are a constitutional right that allows citizens to remove incompetent elected officials, the law in fact does not require a reason be given.

● KMT urges voters at anti-recall rally to defend democracy by voting 'no'

Taiwan's "democracy marathon is nearing the finish line," Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative caucus secretary-general Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤) said as she thanked citizens for mobilizing over the past year -- from protesting opposition-led legislation in the streets to initiating the recall campaigns.

The DPP has denied direct involvement in the recall initiatives targeting KMT lawmakers but has come out in full support of the efforts over the past few months.

Standing alongside several fellow DPP lawmakers, Wu urged supporters to "end the nightmare for democracy" by voting out the KMT lawmakers on the ballot Saturday.

The event also featured speeches by Huang Chun-sheng (黃春生), a Presbyterian Church pastor and entertainer Ili Cheng (鄭家純), and performances by award-winning singer-songwriter Chen Ming-chang (陳明章) and other artists.

The unprecedented recall drive is being led by informal civic groups with the aim of removing 31 out of 39 directly elected KMT lawmakers from office, with 24 recall votes scheduled for Saturday and an additional seven on Aug. 23.

Recall campaigners see the ouster of KMT lawmakers as necessary pushback against what they describe as efforts to undermine Taiwan's constitutional order and defense capabilities, accusing the opposition of advancing Beijing's interests within the legislature.

The outcome of the recall votes could reshape the balance of power in the 113-seat Legislature, where the main opposition KMT and the smaller opposition Taiwan People's Party (TPP) currently hold a combined majority.

Taiwan's recall mechanism allows voters to remove lawmakers from office through public votes.

Once a recall passes, a by-election must be held within three months to elect a replacement.

Meanwhile, KMT and TPP officials and supporters rallied on Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office on Friday night, urging voters to support the KMT lawmakers on the ballot.