Taiwan Greenlights Recall Vote for KMT Lawmakers

Taiwan's Central Election Commission has approved recall votes targeting 24 opposition Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers and suspended Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao, with voting scheduled for July 26. The unprecedented recall effort, driven by civil society groups and supported by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), could shift the legislative balance if successful. The DPP urges support for the recalls, citing national security risks in the opposition's China policy, while the KMT denounces them as politically motivated attacks on democracy. To pass, recall votes must exceed both the number of votes against and 25% of eligible voters in each district. Successful recalls could enable the DPP to regain control of parliament, escalating political polarization amid heightened tensions with China. Meanwhile, recall attempts against DPP lawmakers have failed to gain traction, and legal disputes have arisen over KMT-led recall efforts.