Referendum on 3rd Nuclear Plant, KMT recalls defeated

A referendum to reactivate the Third Nuclear Power Plant failed to meet the required threshold on Saturday -- despite over 70 percent voting in favor -- as did the final phase of recalls targeting seven Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers, following a failed attempt on July 26 to unseat 24 others. President Lai Ching-te addressed public concerns at a news conference, outlining key government adjustments. KMT Chairman Eric Chu described the votes as a collective expression of the people’s democratic will, while Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang said the referendum results have prompted Lai to reconsider his stance on nuclear energy.