TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Central Election Commission said on Friday (Aug. 16) that Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang (謝國樑) will face a recall vote on Oct. 13.

The date set by the commission is a Sunday, and the vote will be held between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. The commission said the result will be announced on Oct. 18, and the cost of the vote will be borne by Keelung City Government, in line with the recall law.

The commission said that 36,909 valid signatures were submitted in support of the recall campaign from within Keelung City, surpassing the 30,792 needed to allow the vote to go ahead.

The commission made the announcement after a months-long campaign staged by civil society groups who say Hsieh is incompetent and should be removed from office. Hshieh and his Kuomintang party members say the recall effort is partisan and politically motivated, which campaigners deny.

After the vote was announced Hsieh told reporters that he hopes Taiwan will not continue the “vicious trend” of initiating recalls. He encouraged his supporters to turn out on the day to vote against a recall, and said he hopes the recall campaign against him is Taiwan's last, per CNA.