Taiwan: Voters reject bid to recall opposition lawmakers

Voters in Taiwan on Saturday rejected an attempt to recall 24 opposition lawmakers, dealing a blow to President Lai Ching-te and his ruling party's chances of regaining a parliamentary majority.

The results showed that the vote did not succeed in unseating any of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers, who are accused of being too close to China.

"All Taiwanese people chose stability, chose that the government should focus on getting things done, rather than engaging in bitter political fighting," KMT chairman Eric Chu told reporters.

"No one can lose an election and then engage in a vicious recall," he said, calling on Lai to "sincerely apologize" and "stop thinking about political infighting". 

Why does Taiwan's recall vote matter?

The high-stakes referendum could have given Lai's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) control of the parliament, as it had lost its parliamentary majority in the 2024 elections, despite Lai's victory in the presidential race.

This is the first mass recall in Taiwan's history, with another seven KMT lawmakers facing a second recall election in August.

KMT, which has a total of 52 parliamentary seats, advocates for closer economic ties with China.

Its critics accuse the KMT lawmakers of being pro-Communist and beholden to China.

The KMT, which controls parliament with the help of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), has slammed the unprecedented recall effort as a power grab.

Following the results, DPP's Secretary-General Lin Yu-chang said the party "humbly" accepts the results, adding that the DPP would "reflect more prudently on the society's response."

Why was the recall vote held?

The KMT, together with the TPP, has obstructed Lai's agenda wherever possible. This includes slashing Taiwan's defense budget and freezing other defense funds at a time when the threat from China is growing.

They have also pushed controversial reforms to expand parliament's powers. These led to brawls in the legislature and massive street protests — and spurred civic groups to launch the recall campaign.

Under Taiwan's election laws, signatures from 10% of a district's registered voters are required to hold a recall vote.

For a KMT lawmaker to lose their seat, the number of votes in favor of recalling them must exceed those against and turnout must exceed 25% of registered voters.

The DPP needs recalls of at least 12 KMT lawmakers to gain temporary control of the parliament.   

What is the role of China in Taiwan's recall vote?

China has loomed large over the recall vote. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council warned earlier in the week of "visible evidence" China was trying to interfere in the election process.

China claims that Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control.

Polls closed at 4 p.m. Taiwan time (0800 UTC/GMT). Taiwan's Central Election Commission is expected to announce the official results on August 1.

Edited by Sean Sinico