TAIPEI – Lawmakers accused of being sympathetic to Beijing survived a sweeping recall vote in Taiwan, ending a politically charged campaign that had threatened to shift the balance of power in the country’s legislature. Preliminary results released Saturday night showed that all 24 Kuomintang (KMT) legislators targeted in the vote will keep their seats. Voters in each district rejected the recall motion, with no district surpassing the required 25% turnout threshold needed for removal.
The “Great Recall,” known locally as the dabamian, was the largest recall effort in Taiwan’s history. It emerged from public frustration over growing gridlock between the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the KMT-led opposition bloc.
The vote followed months of protests and political tensions sparked by the January 2024 general election. President William Lai of the DPP won the presidency, but his party failed to secure a majority in the Legislative Yuan, leaving the KMT and its allies in control of the chamber.
Since then, the opposition has blocked key DPP-backed legislation, fueling accusations of obstruction and foreign influence. Critics within the Bluebird Movement, a civic protest group, claim the KMT is advancing China’s interests inside Taiwan’s parliament.
KMT leaders have rejected these allegations, calling the movement politically motivated. Party officials said the recall campaign was orchestrated to undermine the democratic results of the election. In a public statement, KMT officials said the vote outcome “confirms that citizens do not support these divisive tactics.”
In May 2024, mass protests erupted across Taiwan, with demonstrators accusing KMT legislators of collusion with Beijing. The movement intensified after a group of KMT lawmakers visited China and met with senior Communist Party figures, including Wang Huning.
Despite the controversy, voters in all 24 districts voted “no” to the recall question, preserving the opposition’s narrow majority. According to Taiwan’s election rules, for a recall to succeed, the “yes” votes must both outnumber the “no” votes and represent at least 25% of registered voters in the district.
The DPP, initially hesitant to back the recall effort, later encouraged participation. President Lai stated publicly that the party “must align with the power of the people” and called on officials to support the campaign to “protect the nation.”
Pro-recall activists and civic groups canvassed heavily on the streets and online platforms in the weeks leading to the vote. However, turnout fell short in each case, dealing a blow to their push to remove lawmakers they accuse of undermining Taiwan’s sovereignty.
“This result does not mean the concerns of the people have been addressed,” said a spokesperson from the Bluebird Movement. “It shows how difficult it is to hold elected leaders accountable under the current laws.”
A second round of recall votes is scheduled for August, targeting seven more lawmakers. All are members of the KMT.
The Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing condemned the recall effort, accusing President Lai’s administration of silencing dissent. In a statement, Chinese officials claimed Lai was “masking authoritarianism as democracy.”
Despite the recall vote’s failure, the outcome has deepened Taiwan’s political divide. Analysts warned that the vote could embolden the opposition, while eroding public confidence in institutions amid ongoing accusations of outside interference and legislative dysfunction.
The next round of votes in August will serve as another test of how far Taiwan’s internal political conflicts can stretch under the pressure of rising cross-strait tensions and mounting domestic frustration.
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