People shoot and hold a slogan reading ’‘Come Back to Recall’’ during a campaign rally to promote recall vote targeting 24 Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers in Taipei, Taiwan, Thursday, July 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
People shoot and hold slogans during a campaign rally to promote recall vote targeting 24 Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers in Taipei, Taiwan, Thursday, July 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
People shoot behind a slogan reading ’‘Fake Legislators Are Real Communist Bandits’’ during a campaign rally to promote recall vote targeting 24 Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers in Taipei, Taiwan, Thursday, July 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
Taiwan votes to decide whether to oust lawmakers from China-friendly party in closely watched poll
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwanese were voting Saturday to determine whether to oust about one-fifth of their lawmakers, all from the opposition Nationalist Party, in elections that could potentially reshape the power balance in the self-ruled island’s legislature.
People shoot and hold a slogan reading ’‘Come Back to Recall’’ during a campaign rally to promote recall vote targeting 24 Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers in Taipei, Taiwan, Thursday, July 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
By Christopher Bodeen And Kanis Leung The Associated Press
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwanese were voting Saturday to determine whether to oust about one-fifth of their lawmakers, all from the opposition Nationalist Party, in elections that could potentially reshape the power balance in the self-ruled island’s legislature.
The independence-leaning ruling Democratic Progressive Party , 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.
Those who support removing the 24 lawmakers are angry that the KMT and its allies have blocked key legislation, especially the , and that are seen as diminishing the power of the executive and favoring China, which .
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The opposition parties’ actions sparked concerns among some Taiwanese about the island’s democratic integrity and its ability to deter Chinese military threats, leading to the recall campaigns. The scale of the recall elections is unprecedented, with another seven KMT lawmakers facing similar votes on Aug. 23.
But the KMT alleged the ruling party was resorting to political retaliation after it lost the legislative majority, saying the recalls were undermining and challenging Taiwan’s democratic system.
The KMT holds 52 seats, while the ruling DPP holds 51 seats. For the DPP to secure a legislative majority, at least six KMT lawmakers would need to be ousted, and the ruling party would need to win all by-elections, which would need to be held within three months following the announcement of results.
For the recall to pass, more than a quarter of eligible voters in the electoral district must vote in favor of the recall, and the total number of supporters must exceed those against.
If KMT loses its seats in the recall elections, the party can file new candidates for the by-elections and may be able to win back the seats.
Outside a Taipei polling station, voters old and young were waiting in line to cast their ballots. The poll will close at 4 p.m. local time, with results expected on Saturday night.
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The elections have intensified tensions between those backing the status quo and those favoring 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.
When asked about the recall election, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said in June that since the administration of Taiwan President came into power, it has sought to achieve “one-party dominance†and practiced “dictatorship†under the guise of “democracy,” state broadcaster CCTV reported. She was quoted as saying that Lai’s government has spared no effort in suppressing opposition parties and those who supported the development of cross-strait relations.
Taiwan’s mainland affairs council said Wednesday that the Chinese authorities and state media had tried to blatantly interfere with the vote.
