Taiwan Voters Reject Recall Bid Against 24 Opposition Lawmakers

Taiwanese voters overwhelmingly rejected a major recall effort aimed at ousting 24 opposition Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers, delivering a significant blow to President Lai Ching-te's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and its hopes of regaining legislative control. The recall campaign, supported by civic groups and the DPP, accused KMT legislators of colluding with China, but all targeted lawmakers retained their seats, reinforcing the opposition's majority in the legislature. Analysts noted that the results indicated public preference for maintaining the current political balance and called for the DPP to seek compromise with the opposition to end prolonged legislative gridlock. The opposition alliance, including the KMT and the Taiwan People's Party, now holds the majority, while the DPP remains in the minority, complicating efforts to pass legislation, particularly on defense spending. KMT leaders condemned the recall effort as undemocratic political infighting and urged President Lai to reflect on his governance. The vote also exposed the limits of the DPP's "resist China, protect Taiwan" messaging, which may have backfired by mobilizing voters toward stability and effective governance rather than partisan conflict.