Recall failure a victory for Taiwan's people: KMT chairman

Taipei, July 26 (CNA) The chairman of the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) praised the clean sweep against recall campaigns scored by 24 of his party's lawmakers on Saturday as "a big victory for Taiwan's people," saying it showed that voters opted for stability.

"Taiwan's people have chosen stability and believe that the government should focus on getting things done, not engaging in political infighting," Eric Chu (朱立倫) said at a press conference held at KMT headquarters in Taipei.

The complete failure of the recall campaign against all 24 KMT lawmakers up for recall in nine cities and counties across Taiwan earlier in the day marked a major defeat for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and civic groups behind the effort.

They had hoped to remove lawmakers whom they described as pro-China and as obstructing the government's policies. Had 12 KMT lawmakers been recalled, the DPP would have regained control of the Legislature pending by-elections to fill the open seats.

Chu said Taiwan's people used their ballots to prove Taiwan's democracy is "mature and great."

"No one should seek one-party dominance," he said, adding that no party should resort to launching a major recall campaign after losing an election.

Chu was referring to the KMT's win of 52 legislative seats in the Jan. 13, 2024 elections aimed at renewing the 113-seat Legislature, compared to the DPP's 51 seats.

At Saturday's press event, Chu called for an end to this "political farce," saying there are seven KMT lawmakers still facing recall votes slated for Aug. 23.

"Taiwan should stop wasting energy on internal strife, and should end vicious political infighting," he said.

Chu also urged President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) to reflect on the recall's failure and consider how to lead Taiwan through tariff and trade challenges at a time when the world is striving for economic growth.

Meanwhile, Taiwan People's Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) called on President Lai to publicly apologize to the people for the DPP's large-scale recall campaigns, which he said have "deeply divided Taiwan."

Huang also criticized Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) for seriously violating administrative neutrality and abusing government resources to support the "malicious recall campaigns."

He demanded that Cho immediately step down and make way for a complete Cabinet reshuffle.

In response to all five KMT lawmakers representing Taipei who were up for recall holding on to their positions Saturday, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) expressed his gratitude to voters in the capital city.

Chiang, an influential KMT member, thanked voters for embodying the democratic process in Taiwan and "demonstrating the most cherished values of Taiwan's people."

"There were no winners today," he said, calling for citizens to continue working together to build a better Taipei and a better Taiwan.