TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — As Taiwan prepares for the July 26 recall election, both sides of the debate are mobilizing nationwide.
Pro-recall campaigners and the DPP are planning a major rally in Taipei on July 24 and rallies across Taiwan on July 25, per Tai Sounds. The KMT and TPP will stage a large anti-recall rally in Taipei on July 25, per UDN.
The DPP-organized rally on July 24 will take place on Ketagalan Boulevard. The rally will focus on lawmakers targeted in recall drives, but party insiders told UDN the event will avoid portraying the vote as a direct DPP-KMT confrontation, since most of the KMT legislators facing recall are in KMT-leaning districts.
To maintain that tone, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) will not attend the event, and his speeches will not be played. Insiders said the strategy is to appeal to moderate, Republic of China-supporting voters who oppose the Chinese Communist Party.
On July 25, recall advocacy groups will hold rallies in multiple locations across Taiwan. There will also be major gatherings in front of the Legislative Yuan on Qingdao East Road in Taipei, a symbolic nod to the Bluebird Movement in 2024, and another at No. 148, Zhenxing Road in Taichung’s East District.
The Taichung rally will feature regional groups from Taichung and Nantou and include appearances by award-winning director Wang Hsiao-ti (王小棣) and DPP lawmakers Shen Pao-yang (沈伯洋), Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌), and Ho Hsin-chun (何欣純), per Liberty Times.
On July 25, the KMT will hold a large anti-recall rally on Ketagalan Boulevard. High-profile figures including Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), former KMT vice-presidential candidate Jaw Shaw-kong (趙少康), KMT Chair Eric Chu (朱立倫), and several KMT mayors and lawmakers will attend. They will be joined by TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) and suspended Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao (高虹安).
The campaign environment remains fluid. Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation Chair You Ying-lung (游盈隆) on Tuesday identified five key variables that could influence the outcome: US President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs, potential CCP intimidation tactics, KMT and TPP voter mobilization, and the Legislative Yuan’s confirmation vote for Constitutional Court justices on July 25, per Tai Sounds.
While the US delay in announcing new tariffs on Taiwan has removed some pressure, You noted the KMT is still attempting to use the trade issue as a political attack. He added that any perceived threats from China may further energize pro-recall voters.
As for the upcoming confirmation vote, You suggested the most likely outcome is symbolic approval of one nominee. However, he noted that some KMT lawmakers have expressed positive views toward four of Lai’s justice picks.
