“Almost unprecedented in a modern democracy” is how Global Taiwan Institute characterizes the recall campaign in the Republic of China—initiated against Kuomintang legislators for working to obstruct the efforts of the Democratic Progressive Party’s administration to strengthen national defense against the People’s Republic of China and other measures. July 26, 2025 is the day that ROC voters will determine the fate of most of the targeted lawmakers.
What it’s all about is the subject of a July 23, 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. (EST) panel discussion to be held at 1836 Jefferson Pl NW in Washington DC.
Taiwan’s January 2024 elections produced a divided government: with Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) winning the presidential election, and an opposition coalition of the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan’s People’s Party (TPP) taking a majority of the seats in Taiwan’s unicameral legislature, the Legislative Yuan. Following serious controversies in 2024 over matters such as the government budget, legislative authority, and the role of the constitutional court—some of which threatened a constitutional crisis—civic activists upset over the actions of the majority legislative caucus organized recall efforts against a large number of KMT legislators.
As a result of the initial recall process, 26 KMT legislators now face first-stage recall elections (for potential removal from office), with most scheduled for July 26. This large-scale recall process—almost unprecedented in a modern democracy—has placed nearly a quarter of the seats in the legislature up for grabs… What brought about this striking state of political developments? What are the major issues at stake in the recall elections? And how are the recall elections likely to impact Taiwan’s government and Taiwan-US relations for the remainder of the current legislative and presidential terms?
You can attend the discussion of “Taiwan’s ‘Great Recall’ Elections and the Impact on Taiwan’s Future Politics” in person (register for free tickets) or watch the live stream on a GTI page.
