VOTERS turned out at schools, temples and community centres yesterday to cast their ballots in a high-stakes recall election that could give President Lai Ching-te’s party control of parliament.
Civic groups backed by Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) are seeking to unseat 31 lawmakers belonging to the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party, which they accuse of being pro-China and a threat to the democratic island’s security.
The KMT, which wants closer ties with Beijing, controls parliament with the help of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) and has slammed the unprecedented recall effort as a DPP power grab.
Polling stations opened around the island at 8am with 24 KMT lawmakers facing potential recall. Elections for another seven KMT lawmakers will be held on Aug 23.
Public opinion is split over the recall, which has dominated newspaper headlines and social media feeds for months.
Both major parties held rain-soaked rallies in recent days to urge supporters to take part in the critical election, which could upend the balance of power in parliament and fuel tensions with China.
Lai, a staunch defender of Taiwan’s sovereignty and detested by Beijing, won the presidential election in 2024. But his DPP lost its majority in the legislature.
Since then, the KMT and TPP have joined forces to stymie Lai’s agenda, and slashed or frozen parts of the government’s budget.
Contentious opposition Bills, including an attempt to expand parliament’s powers, sparked brawls in the legislature and massive street protests.
The DPP needs a minimum of 12 KMT lawmakers recalled to gain temporary control of parliament, with risk analysis firm Eurasia Group giving that outcome “a 60% probability”.
Lai’s party would then need to flip six seats in by-elections later this year to cement its dominance in parliament – which analysts say would be a formidable challenge.
Analysts said if the DPP gets control of the purse strings, even if only for a few months, it is likely to reverse the budget cuts and increase defence spending. — AFP
