TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A high-profile recall campaign targeting KMT legislative caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) intensified Friday, as organizers launched a cross-island march starting in Hualien, the lawmaker’s home base.
Speaking at the campaign’s launch, United Microelectronics Corporation founder Robert Tsao (曹興誠) called the recall of Fu a civic responsibility, per UDN. He portrayed the effort as a pushback against alleged Chinese influence in Taiwan’s legislature.
Retired teacher and local personality Yeh Chun-lien (葉春蓮) went further, labeling Fu a “commie.” She also called for the public to consider recalling Hualien County Magistrate Hsu Chen-wei (徐榛蔚), Fu’s wife.
In response, the Hualien KMT called on authorities to investigate 14 signatures from deceased individuals and five suspected forgeries in the recall petition against Fu. Party officials warned that failure to act could foster perceptions of political bias and undermine public trust.
Fu, a polarizing figure, has become the central target in what is now one of the most closely watched recall efforts in the country. The DPP has committed significant resources to the campaign, deploying about 20% of its headquarters staff to assist local recall groups in preparing for the upcoming recall election, per UP Media.
While the recall effort holds symbolic value, it may also serve strategic ends. Up Media suggested that the campaign may serve as a potential springboard for DPP Secretary-General Lin Yu-chang (林右昌) ahead of the 2026 New Taipei mayoral election.
Still, the DPP is approaching the situation cautiously. The party has reportedly declined offers from DPP mayoral primary candidates to join the campaign, fearing the effort could be seen as a partisan power play.
One DPP official familiar with the local landscape told Up Media that turning the recall campaign into another venue for DPP’s mayoral primary may risk alienating voters. The party’s restraint may also be shaped by past missteps.
In 2003, then-President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) attempted to leverage KMT infighting in Hualien’s magistrate by-election. The DPP candidate secured less than 30% of the vote, while the KMT candidate won handily with over 50%.
Fu’s rallies this week showed he still commands a strong local base. Two events held on Tuesday in Hualien drew nearly 2,000 supporters, per ETtoday.
While national media often portray Fu as a controversial figure, ETtoday reported that Fu still has strong local support. Hualien taxi drivers told the outlet that despite his flaws, Fu is the one politician who “understands Hualien.”
Recall organizers have criticized Fu’s support for several major infrastructure projects, including the extension of Highway No. 6 to Hualien, a new highway linking Hualien and Taitung, and extending the high-speed rail to the east coast, calling them wasteful and unnecessary.
At his rally, Fu pushed back, asking the crowd whether they wanted the proposed projects. The answer was a resounding “yes,” reflecting the frustration many locals feel about Hualien’s slow development compared to western Taiwan.
ETtoday reported that, based on the atmosphere on the ground, recalling Fu remains a tall order. The outlet noted that Fu’s image as a controversial yet effective figure resonates with many voters, particularly in Hualien, a region often seen as neglected when it comes to government investment.
