TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Recall groups are working quickly during the Lunar New Year holiday to collect enough signatures before the new proposed changes to the “Public Officials Election and Recall Act” take effect.

Recall groups spokesperson Molly Chiang (莫莉) said the campaign, which began in December, has already reached the threshold required to submit the first stage of proposals. To sustain the drive, petition flash mobs and sporadic parades are being held throughout the nine-day Lunar New Year holiday period, per CNA.

Last Tuesday, KMT and TPP legislators approved a central government budget, cutting about NT$207.5 billion (US$6.29 billion) from the Cabinet’s original spending plan. In response, DPP legislative leader Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) proposed recalling 41 KMT legislators, according to Yahoo News.

Meanwhile, grassroots KMT supporters are targeting four DPP legislators in districts with stronger KMT backing. This focus may trigger a wave of recall efforts.

The political momentum is further fueled by a draft amendment of the “Public Officials Election and Recall Act” passed by KMT and TPP lawmakers.

The proposed changes, sent to the Cabinet at 4:47 p.m. on Friday just before the holiday, aim to tighten requirements for recall petitions, as reported by TTV and RTI. The proposed amendment includes a requirement for petitioners to submit copies of their ID cards.

If approved, this change would make the process of initiating recall efforts considerably more difficult. Under current laws, petitioners are not required to submit ID copies, enabling a simpler process.

Recall groups are rushing to gather signatures before the new law takes effect.

Former Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) criticized the timing of the legislature's actions. He called it a “blatant political calculation” by opposition parties.

Su accused the opposition of disrespecting the Cabinet and civil servants. He said submitting the proposal at the end of the day was meant to create logistical difficulties for the Cabinet, which must respond within 10 days.

The Cabinet held an emergency meeting at 5:15 p.m. on Friday and approved a proposal to reconsider the draft amendment. If the legislature rejects the reconsideration, the president must announce the amendment within 10 days.

Former Central Election Commission Chair Chen In-chin (陳英鈐) raised concerns that the timing of petition submissions under the new law could create unequal signature thresholds for legislators elected during the same election. If enacted, the law could lead to constitutional issues related to equal rights.

For example, if two legislators are elected during the same election, the timing of petition submissions could mean that starting a recall or review would require different numbers of signatures for the two lawmakers. 

KMT New Taipei branch leader Huang Chih-hsiung (黃志雄) called for rationality. He warned against making recall campaigns a regular occurrence.

Huang emphasized that recall efforts should be based on good reasoning. He also pointed out that lawmakers have a responsibility to manage government budgets properly, including cutting or freezing unnecessary spending.

Taiwan's 2025 recall process

• Phase 1

Proposals from people in the district where the official was elected are needed to start a recall of an elected official. The number of proposals must be at least 1% of the area's total voters.

Once submitted, the CEC has 25 days to verify the list of proposers.

• Phase 2

A recall petition must gather signatures from at least 10% of the total voters in the election district within 60 days. Proposers cannot sign as petitioners.

After a recall proposal is approved, the process moves to the voting stage. The date for a recall vote will be announced within five days after the defense period ends.

The recall target has 10 days to submit a defense statement.

• Phase 3

The recall vote must be held within 20 to 60 days after the recall is officially established.

According to Article 90 of the current “Public Officials Election and Recall Act,” a recall vote is successful if:

1. The number of valid “yes” votes exceeds the number of “no” votes
2. The “yes” votes must also be at least one-quarter of the total voters in the original election district

• Consequences and restrictions following a successful recall

If a recall is successful, the official being recalled must cease their duties starting from the day the recall results are announced. The official cannot run for the same job in the same area for the next four years, with the same rule applied if the official resigns during the recall process.

If the official’s position is empty after the recall, an election must be held within three months. If the recall is challenged in court, the election will be delayed until the legal case ends.

To avoid recall misuse, if a recall fails, no one can propose a recall for the same official during their current term.