TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The KMT denied on Wednesday reports that it was planning to establish a command center to coordinate a retaliatory recall campaign against the DPP.
KMT Legislative Caucus Leader Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) reaffirmed the party's stance against launching a recall campaign in retaliation for the DPP's push for recalls, per Up Media. His remarks followed a report in China Times suggesting the KMT was considering setting up a command center to facilitate such efforts.
Fu swiftly denied the claim, adding the KMT would stick to its legislative duties. Fu also urged President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) to take a clearer stance, criticizing him for showing goodwill to Legislative Yuan Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) while allowing DPP Legislative Caucus Whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) to call for Han’s removal.
During a KMT caucus meeting Tuesday, Fu warned his party against launching a recall campaign, cautioning that it could alienate the median voter, per ETtoday. He pointed out that competitive districts are nearly equal between the KMT and DPP, making it difficult and costly for the DPP to secure a legislative majority.
KMT Chair Eric Chu (朱立倫) also weighed in, saying that while his party does not actively seek confrontation, it would respond appropriately to any aggression, per UDN.
In response to the recall command center rumors, DPP Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) and DPP Spokesperson Wu Cheng (吳崢) criticized the KMT's tactics, per CNA. Wu Cheng suggested the KMT was launching a two-pronged assault on recall power by both attempting to amend recall laws to limit people's access, and intimidating the ruling party through targeted recall efforts.
Wu Cheng also implied the KMT was making the recall process so resource-intensive that only major institutions like the KMT could effectively wield recall power. Wu Pei-yi questioned the motives behind the KMT’s potential recall efforts, suggesting they were an act of bad faith in reaction to the DPP’s own recall initiative.
While some in the DPP called for a confrontational recall strategy, DPP Secretary-General Lin Yu-chang (林右昌) cautioned against it, per CNA. Lin acknowledged what he saw as aggressive actions by the KMT and TPP in the legislature, but he advised against launching mass recall campaigns.
Lin argued that recalls should be used only as a last resort after all other avenues have been exhausted. He expressed concerns about escalating tensions between the legislature and the administration, less than a year into Lai’s presidency.
Lin called on DPP members to uphold Taiwan’s democratic values and resist the temptation to engage in recall confrontations.
