Thousands of Taiwanese citizens are participating in an unprecedented and politically charged recall vote aimed at unseating lawmakers accused of maintaining overly close ties with China.
Over 30 legislators are targeted in the “dabamian,” or Great Recall vote, an initiative spearheaded by a civic movement.
This vote holds the potential to significantly alter Taiwan’s political landscape, which has been marked by months of political gridlock between the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the legislature, currently dominated by the opposition Kuomintang and its allies.
The issue has deeply divided Taiwanese society, fueling large-scale rallies and intense debates. Proponents and opponents of the recall effort both claim to be defending Taiwan’s democratic principles.
The recall movement originated following the January 2024 elections, which saw the DPP’s William Lai elected as president, but resulted in the opposition securing a majority in the parliamentary Legislative Yuan.
In the ensuing months, the Kuomintang, in collaboration with the smaller Taiwan People’s Party and independent lawmakers, has worked to block DPP-sponsored bills and pass controversial legislation.
These actions have provoked anger among some Taiwanese citizens, who perceive them as attempts to obstruct the DPP government while simultaneously consolidating the opposition’s power within the legislature.
In May 2024, thousands participated in protests that became known as the Bluebird movement, named in part after the Taipei street where many gatherings took place.
A significant portion of this movement believes that the opposition, particularly the Kuomintang, known for its comparatively more amicable stance toward China, is being influenced by Beijing to advance China’s interests within Taiwan’s legislature.
While the Kuomintang denies these allegations, suspicions were heightened following a visit to China by a group of Kuomintang lawmakers, who were received by high-ranking Chinese Communist Party official Wang Huning.
In response, civic groups within the Bluebird movement launched petitions to remove several Kuomintang legislators, prompting retaliatory measures from Kuomintang supporters targeting some DPP lawmakers.
To date, petitions concerning 31 lawmakers have garnered sufficient preliminary support to proceed to a final recall vote.
All of these seats are currently held by the Kuomintang, and successful recalls could potentially shift the balance of power, ultimately granting the DPP a majority in the legislature.
While Taiwan has previously held recall votes, the current situation is unprecedented in terms of the sheer number of recalls occurring within a compressed timeframe.
On Saturday, citizens in 24 districts will vote on a simple yes or no question: whether they agree to remove their legislator. Another round of voting will be held in August for the remaining recall cases.
In 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 months.
Voter turnout is considered crucial for the Great Recall’s success.
In recent weeks, civic groups have been actively campaigning on social media platforms and in the streets, urging citizens to vote in favor of the recalls.
Concurrently, the Kuomintang and its allies have organized rallies, encouraging voters to reject the recall efforts.
They have alleged that the DPP orchestrated the Great Recall and Bluebird movement to overturn the election results and seize control of the Legislative Yuan.
Initially, the DPP sought to distance itself from the Great Recall movement. However, the party eventually voiced its support, with Lai emphasizing the need for the DPP to “align with the power of the people” and instructing party officials to assist pro-recall groups in “protecting the nation.”
Beijing has also weighed in on the debate, observing the situation 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”.
The spectre of Chinese influence in parliament has sparked a movement and fractured Taiwan’s society.
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