TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The recall campaign against Kuomintang KMT Legislator Cheng Cheng-chien (鄭正鈐) and suspended Hsinchu Mayor Kao Hung-an (高虹安) has gained significant traction, with petitions surpassing 70,000 signatures, Democratic Progressive Party Legislative Caucus Leader Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) revealed Thursday.

The recall movement is part of a broader political wave that has swept Taiwan in recent months. It gained traction in December after KMT and Taiwan People’s Party lawmakers approved a central government budget that slashed NT$207.5 billion (US$6.29 billion) from the Cabinet’s original proposal.

In response, Ker spearheaded a recall initiative targeting 41 KMT legislators. Meanwhile, KMT supporters launched counter-recall efforts against four DPP lawmakers in districts where the KMT has stronger voter support.

The recall battle has intensified following the passage of a draft amendment to the “Public Officials Election and Recall Act” by KMT and TPP legislators. The proposed changes, submitted to the Cabinet at 4:47 p.m. on Friday, just before the Lunar New Year holiday, seek to tighten recall petition requirements by mandating that petitioners submit copies of their ID cards.

If enacted, the new rule would significantly complicate the recall process, which currently does not require ID copies for petitioners.

Former Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) condemned the timing of the amendment’s submission, calling it a “blatant political calculation” by the opposition. He accused KMT and TPP lawmakers of disrespecting the Cabinet and civil servants by submitting the proposal late in the day, creating logistical hurdles for the government, which is required to respond within 10 days.

The Cabinet responded by holding an emergency meeting at 5:15 p.m. on Friday, where officials approved a motion to reconsider the draft amendment. If the legislature rejects the Cabinet’s reconsideration, the president will be required to announce the amendment within 10 days, officially enacting the stricter recall rules.

With the looming legal changes, recall organizers are rushing to gather signatures before the new law takes effect.

Reasons for recall 

Ker said the recall campaign has exceeded both the first- and second-phase signature thresholds, effectively collecting double the required amount. He argued that the high number of signatures reflects widespread dissatisfaction among Hsinchu residents, per LTN.

He criticized Kao for prioritizing her legal battles over city governance. Ker argued that Kao has been more focused on attending court than managing city affairs,.

Ker also noted that Cheng was elected with the lowest vote percentage nationwide — 35% — and has since failed to make meaningful contributions as a legislator  Instead he has frequently appeared alongside Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜).

DPP Hsinchu Chapter Chair Shih Nai-ju (施乃如) echoed these concerns, accusing Cheng of neglecting his constituency while supporting the KMT’s push for what she called “anti-constitutional” legislation. She also blamed him for obstructing the national budget and contributing to government dysfunction.

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University professor Lin Chih-chieh (林志潔) said that as a Taiwanese citizen and Hsinchu resident, she was compelled to support the recall.

Lin revealed that recall organizers have maintained close contact with her, and within just five days, her office has received and processed over 10,000 recall petitions. The collected petitions will be submitted to the Taiwan Anti-Communist Volunteers Alliance, the sole national organization handling the recall effort.

Taiwan Anti-Communist Volunteers Alliance

The Taiwan Anti-Communist Volunteers Alliance was established on Jan. 22 by United Microelectronics Corp. founder Robert Tsao (曹興誠). During the launch event, Tsao outlined the alliance’s first mission: to initiate recall efforts against legislators accused of undermining Taiwan’s democracy.

Tsao emphasized that the alliance is a nonpartisan movement, uniting volunteers from across the political spectrum. He argued that Taiwan’s longstanding political divide has been fueled by external interference, particularly from the Chinese Communist Party and the KMT.

Tsao criticized 62 KMT and TPP lawmakers, accusing them of slashing budgets and paralyzing the government, actions he said have sparked public outrage. He described these legislators as “Red Guards” and threats to Taiwan’s constitutional order, prompting widespread calls for their recall.

According to Tsao, the political turmoil in Taiwan is not viewed as chaos by Beijing but as a calculated outcome of its strategy. He claimed the CCP is systematically weakening Taiwan by using the KMT as a political tool.

As the recall movement gains momentum, organizers have appointed Ker Chien-ming’s congressional aide, Tai Chen-po (戴振博), as the lead petitioner. Acting in a civic capacity, Tai will leverage his legislative experience to coordinate efforts and strengthen the campaign’s organization.

Supporters believe the recall initiative could mark the beginning of a new political landscape in Hsinchu and beyond.

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.