TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — DPP legislators criticized the KMT on Thursday for advancing amendments to the Public Officials Election and Recall Act, accusing the party of effectively abolishing the recall system.
The proposed changes, which passed a controversial three-minute meeting at the Internal Administration Committee on Monday and entered a month-long discussion period, include a stipulation that "yes" votes in a recall election must exceed the number of votes the recalled official received in the previous election, per UDN.
Another controversial amendment requiring the collection of personal identification during the petition phase will be put to a vote on Friday, per CNA.
DPP lawmakers, including Lin Chu-yin (林楚茵), Wang Yi-chuan (王義川), Lee Po-yi (李柏毅), and Wecare Kaohsiung founder Yin Li (尹立), expressed outrage over the amendments, calling on the public to protest against them, per CNA.
Lin argued that the KMT, aware of the public's opposition, is seeking to make recall elections more difficult. He suggested that these amendments could effectively eliminate the possibility of recalling elected officials.
Wang echoed Lin's concerns, warning that if the amendments pass, it would become nearly impossible for Taiwanese to recall politicians. He also criticized the requirement for personal ID during the petition phase, calling it a way to discourage the public from signing petitions .
Lee pointed out that many democratic countries, including the US, Canada, Japan, and Switzerland, do not require identification to sign a recall petition. He urged both the KMT and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) to align with public opinion.
Yin Li accused the KMT of employing recall as a form of retaliatory tactic, claiming the amendments would turn Taiwan into an international laughingstock.
In a separate press conference, TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) responded to the DPP's criticisms, clarifying his party’s position on the amendments. Huang said the TPP supports requiring identification during the petition stage but opposes making the actual recall election more difficult.
He cited a poll showing over 60% in public support for ID requirements during the petition phase.
Huang also clarified that the amendment to raising the bar for recall election will remain under discussion for another month before being put to a vote in the Legislative Yuan. Huang also criticized DPP Secretary-General Tsai Yi-yu (蔡易餘) for claiming the vote would take place on Friday.
Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) commented on the two amendments Monday, expressing the government’s opposition to both. Liu warned the controversial nature of the amendments could deepen distrust between the government and the opposition, per TVBS.
Liu also indicated the government may request a judicial review if the ID amendment is passed in the Legislative Yuan on Friday.
