Taiwanese voters have voted in a recall election to determine whether to oust about one-fifth of their lawmakers, all from the opposition Nationalist Party (KMT), a vote that could potentially reshape the power balance in the self-ruled island’s legislature. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party won last year’s presidential election, but the China-friendly Nationalists (KMT) and the smaller Taiwan People’s Party have enough seats to form a majority bloc. The KMT and its allies have blocked key legislation, especially the defense budget, and passed controversial changes that are seen as diminishing the power of the executive and favoring China. The scale of the recall elections is unprecedented, with another seven KMT lawmakers facing similar votes on Aug. 23. 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. 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 the by-elections, which must be held within three months of the announcement of results.
Taiwan is set to vote on whether to remove lawmakers from a party that supports China.
