Can Taiwan’s KMT stay relevant with long-shot bid to unseat island’s leader, William Lai?
Taiwan’s recall wars test voter patience, leaving both sides facing struggle to convince public they can govern constructively
Over the past several weeks, the Beijing-friendly KMT has seen a surge in recall petitions led by pro-Lai supporters, targeting its 35 district-elected legislators. At the same time, dozens of local KMT officials have been arrested for allegedly forging documents in counter-recall efforts against Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers.
Prosecutors also raided KMT local chapter headquarters across the island – from Taipei and New Taipei to Keelung, Yilan, Taichung and Tainan – seizing stacks of documents that could be used in future legal proceedings.
Legislators from the KMT and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) – who together have held a narrow legislative majority – have faced mounting criticism from Taiwan-centric civic groups for obstructing the Lai administration.
As the opposition has become increasingly embattled, many have questioned whether Taiwan still has a functioning opposition capable of holding the executive to account.
In one of his boldest political moves, KMT chairman Eric Chu Li-luan led a group of party officials and lawmakers in a protest outside the Taipei District Prosecutors Office on April 17, defying repeated police warnings. The demonstration followed the arrest of the leader of the KMT’s Taipei chapter.