Can Taiwan evade political turmoil as lawmakers clash over mass recalls?

As the DPP and KMT tussle over government’s mandate, each side threatens to oust lawmakers, fuelling worries over political stability

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Government and opposition lawmakers have threated to oust each other amid ongoing tensions, threatening further political instability. Photo: AFP

Published: 8:15am, 11 Jan 2025Updated: 9:33pm, 11 Jan 2025

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.

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.

Ker Chien-ming is the DPP’s legislative caucus whip. Photo: CNA

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.