Latest news with #GreatRecall
Qatar Tribune
4 days ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
‘Pro-China' politicians survive Taiwan vote to kick them out
Taipei: Early results of an unprecedented vote in Taiwan aimed at ousting politicians accused of being too close to China indicate that all have retained their seats. Thousands of Taiwanese went to the polls on Saturday in what has been termed as the 'dabamian', or Great Recall vote, initiated by a civic vote result was closely watched as it could have altered the balance of power in Taiwan, which has seen months of political deadlock between the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government and the legislature dominated by the opposition Kuomintang and its allies. But the early result shows the opposition keeps its majority. A small number of votes are still being counted. On Saturday, citizens in 24 districts – all held by the Kuomintang - voted on a simple yes or no question: whether they agreed to boot out their legislator. While Taiwan held recall votes in the past, it had never seen so many within such a short period of time. Early results show that a majority of voters in every district voted no, which means none of the lawmakers have to vacate their seats. The opposition maintains its slim majority - for now. Another round of recall voting will be held in August for seven other seats. Analysts have said that if the Great Recall fails, it would intensify political polarisation in Taiwan, and embolden politicians to do what they want despite opposition from a significant segment of the population.(Agencies)
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Voters in Taiwan reject bid to oust China-friendly MPs
Taiwanese voters rejected a bid to oust about one-fifth of their MPs, all from the opposition Nationalist Party, in a recall election, dampening hopes for the ruling party to flip the balance of power in the self-ruled island's legislature. The independence-leaning ruling Democratic Progressive Party won last year's presidential election, but the China-friendly Nationalists, also known as the KMT, and the smaller Taiwan People's Party have enough seats to form a majority bloc. Official preliminary results showed that the recall efforts failed to remove any of the two dozen KMT lawmakers. The scale of the recall elections is unprecedented, with another seven KMT lawmakers facing a similar vote on August 23. The KMT currently holds 52 seats, while the ruling DPP holds 51 seats. For the DPP to secure a legislative majority, at least six KMT MPs would need to be ousted, and the ruling party would need to win the by-elections, which must be held within three months of the announcement of results. For the recall to pass, more than a quarter of eligible voters in the electoral district must vote in favour of it, and the total number of supporters must exceed those voting against. The poll closed at 4pm local time. Taiwan's Central Election Commission will announce the official results on August 1. If next month's poll results are also unfavourable to the DPP, it would mean that the government of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te could continue to face strong resistance from within the legislature before elections expected to take place in 2028. What are #Taiwan's "Great Recall" elections, and why should Americans care? Bo Tedards shares his expert perspective in this short video! 🔗Read his full report: #GTI's #GreatRecall panel recording: — Global Taiwan Inst. (@globaltaiwan) July 24, 2025 KMT chairman Eric Chu told reporters that voters had used their ballots to prove Taiwan's democracy is mature and great, calling for an apology from Lai. "All Taiwanese people chose stability, chose that the government should focus on getting things done, rather than engaging in bitter political fighting," he said. Despite their huge effort, those backing the recall were facing an "uphill battle" in trying to unseat MPs in well-organised, strongly KMT districts, said Lev Nachman, a professor of political science at National Taiwan University. The result is going to make it even harder for Lai to push his agenda forward, especially ahead of local elections next year, said Nachman, who is an expert on Taiwan's elections. Fu Kun-chi, one of the most powerful and controversial MPs targeted, said the result left Lai with no option other than to meet with the opposition and "find a way for Taiwan to proceed in a more stable way in this chaotic world". DPP Secretary-General Lin Yu-chang said they humbly accepted the results, saying the recall should not be reduced to a victory or defeat for political parties and that it should be seen as a demonstration of civic power. He said his party has the responsibility to reflect on public sentiment more cautiously and adjust its approach to meet people's expectations. Those who support removing the 24 MPs have criticised the KMT and its allies for blocking key legislation, especially the defence budget, and passing controversial changes that are seen as diminishing the power of the executive and favouring China, which considers the island its own territory. But the KMT has accused the ruling party of resorting to political retaliation after it lost the legislative majority, saying the recalls were undermining and challenging Taiwan's democratic system. The elections have intensified tensions between those backing the status quo and those favouring improved ties with Beijing. Critics accuse China-friendly politicians of compromising Taiwan and take issue with their meetings with mainland Chinese politicians. But these Taiwanese politicians claim their connections are vital for dialogue, given Beijing's refusal to interact with the DPP. Taiwan's mainland affairs council said Wednesday that the Chinese authorities and state media had tried to blatantly interfere with the vote.
United News of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- United News of India
Taiwan holds controversial vote targeting 'pro-China' lawmakers
Taipei, July 26 (UNI) Thousands of Taiwanese are heading to the polls in an unprecedented and controversial vote aimed at ousting lawmakers accused of being too close to China. More than 30 lawmakers have been targeted in the "dabamian", or Great Recall vote, initiated by a civic movement. The vote has the potential to alter the balance of power in Taiwan, which has seen months of political deadlock between the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government and the legislature dominated by the opposition Kuomintang and its allies, reports BBC. The issue has deeply divided Taiwanese society, which has seen large rallies and fierce debate. Both pro-recall and anti-recall activists claim to be fighting for Taiwan's democracy. The movement around the recall vote began with elections in January 2024, when voters chose the DPP's William Lai as their president but gave the opposition the dominant presence in the parliamentary Legislative Yuan. In the following months, the main opposition party Kuomintang worked together with the smaller Taiwan People's Party and independents to block DPP bills and pass controversial pieces of legislation. These moves angered some Taiwanese, who saw these as attempts to stymie the DPP government while strengthening the opposition's parliamentary power. In May 2024, thousands began holding protests in what became known as the Bluebird movement, partially Many in the movement believe the opposition, led by the Kuomintang which is known for its relatively friendlier position on China, is being influenced by Beijing and secretly pushing China's agenda in Taiwan's legislature. UNI XC SS
BBC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Taiwan holds controversial vote targeting 'pro-China' lawmakers
Thousands of Taiwanese are heading to the polls in an unprecedented and controversial vote aimed at ousting lawmakers accused of being too close to than 30 lawmakers have been targeted in the "dabamian", or Great Recall vote, initiated by a civic vote has the potential to alter the balance of power in Taiwan, which has seen months of political deadlock between the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government and the legislature dominated by the opposition Kuomintang and its issue has deeply divided Taiwanese society, which has seen large rallies and fierce debate. Both pro-recall and anti-recall activists claim to be fighting for Taiwan's democracy. The movement around the recall vote began with elections in January 2024, when voters chose the DPP's William Lai as their president but gave the opposition the dominant presence in the parliamentary Legislative the following months, the main opposition party Kuomintang worked together with the smaller Taiwan People's Party and independents to block DPP bills and pass controversial pieces of moves angered some Taiwanese, who saw these as attempts to stymie the DPP government while strengthening the opposition's parliamentary power. In May 2024, thousands began holding protests in what became known as the Bluebird movement, partially named after the Taipei street where many had in the movement believe the opposition, led by the Kuomintang which is known for its relatively friendlier position on China, is being influenced by Beijing and secretly pushing China's agenda in Taiwan's party has denied this, but suspicion grew when a group of Kuomintang lawmakers visited China last year and were welcomed by top-ranking Chinese Communist Party official Wang groups in the Bluebird movement launched petitions to oust various Kuomintang lawmakers, while Kuomintang supporters retaliated by doing the same to some DPP far, petitions for 31 lawmakers' seats have received enough preliminary support to proceed with a final recall vote. All these seats are held by the Kuomintang - and if enough are successfully recalled, it could mean the DPP eventually gains the majority in the Taiwan has held recall votes before, it has never seen so many within such a short space of time. On Saturday, citizens in 24 districts will vote on a simple yes or no question: whether they agree to boot out their legislator. Another round of voting will be held in August for the remaining recall each district, if the number of votes exceeds 25% of registered voters and more than half say yes, the seat must be vacated and a by-election held within three turnout has been seen as crucial for the Great Recall's success. In recent weeks civic groups have been relentlessly flooding social media platforms and pounding the streets canvassing for the Kuomintang and its allies have held rallies urging voters to say no to the have alleged that the DPP masterminded the Great Recall and Bluebird movement in order to overturn the results of the election and gain power in the Legislative DPP had initially sought to distance itself from the Great Recall movement. But eventually it showed its support, with Lai stressing that the DPP "must align with the power of the people" and ordering party officials to assist pro-recall groups to "protect the nation".Beijing has also waded into the debate while watching from afar. Its Taiwan Affairs Office has accused Lai of "engaging in dictatorship under the guise of democracy" and "using every means possible to suppress the opposition".
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Taiwan Holds High-Stakes Recall Elections As China Watches On
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Voters in cities and counties across Taiwan will head to the polls Saturday in what local media are calling the "Great Recall." At stake are the jobs of nearly two dozen legislators and several local leaders—along with the island's political balance of power, which could significantly impact Taiwan's relationship with China. Proponents have framed the recall as a means of breaking the legislative gridlock. Critics have slammed it as an abuse of the democratic process. Why It Matters The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) retained the presidency with Lai Ching-te's victory in January 2024, but lost its majority in Taiwan's 113-seat legislature. The opposition Kuomintang (KMT)—which favors closer engagement with China—and its junior partner, the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), have since used their majority to push through a series of parliamentary reforms and enact budget freezes, including cuts to major defense projects. Critics accuse the opposition of obstructing government policy and weakening Taiwan's hand against China, which claims the self-ruled island as its territory and has not ruled out unification by force. Beijing has ramped up military pressure on Taiwan in recent years and this has only escalated since the inauguration of Lai, whom Beijing considers a "separatist." Newsweek reached out to the Chinese foreign ministry by email with a request for comment. A pro-recall rally is seen in front of Presidential Hall in Taipei on July 24, 2025. A pro-recall rally is seen in front of Presidential Hall in Taipei on July 24, 2025. I-Hwa Cheng/AFP via Getty Images What To Know Saturday's recall election, spearheaded by DPP officials and affiliated grassroots organizations, targets 22 lawmakers from the KMT, one from the TPP, and two mayors. A recall succeeds if over 25 percent of eligible voters participate and a majority votes to remove the official. Those recalled cannot run again in the same district for four years. With the KMT holding a slim legislative majority, just six or seven successful recalls could tip the balance and give the DPP renewed control in the 113-seat Legislative Yuan. The KMT describes the campaign as an abuse of democratic process, while the DPP says it's a constitutional right for citizens. China's Taiwan Affairs Office has denounced the recalls in previous statements, while Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council has accused Beijing of trying to influence the outcome. The vote could reshape Taiwan's politics and signal how the island will respond to Chinese pressure. If the DPP regains control of the legislature, Beijing may retaliate with a show of force, such as the three large scale military drills it has staged since Lai took office. What People Are Saying Tso Chen-dong, a political science professor at National Taiwan University, told Deutsche Welle: "If the mass recall has deepened divisions in Taiwanese society, it would be a great opportunity for the Chinese Communist Party to look for excuses and cracks to push forward with its agenda toward Taiwan." Yu Laiming, director of Wuhan University's Institute of Taiwan Studies, wrote in an op-ed for Chinese state media outlet China Daily: "The aggressive purge of dissenting voices, on the pretext of the recall vote, is a blatant manipulation of public sentiment, trampling on Taiwan's legislative system. Such actions are not only disgraceful but reprehensible." What's Next All but five of the recall votes will be held on July 26, 2025. The fate of the other five offices will decided on August 23.
