Taiwan’s main opposition and ruling parties this week appeared to back away from plans to launch mass recall campaigns against each other’s lawmakers, avoiding a direct showdown.
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But analysts warned that partisan hostilities would persist as the ruling independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) continued to refuse to recognise its minority status in the legislature, intensifying political tensions with the Beijing-friendly Kuomintang (KMT) opposition party and adding to uncertainty over Taiwan’s governance and stability.
The flare-up erupted on January 4 when Ker Chien-ming, the DPP legislative caucus whip, announced a campaign to oust 41 opposition lawmakers from the 113-seat legislature.
“We must recall the 41 KMT legislators,” Ker declared, stressing that the DPP, with only 51 seats, had been unable to block opposition-sponsored proposals.
The KMT holds 54 legislative seats, which include 13 at-large lawmakers elected via proportional representation, and two independents who align with the party. The DPP holds 51 seats, including 13 at-large lawmakers. Through an informal alliance with the smaller Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), which holds eight at-large seats, the opposition controls a majority of 62 seats in the legislature.
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