Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is pushing forward legislation designed to make it significantly more difficult to recall elected officials, a move sparking intense political debate, Bloomberg reports.
The amendments, approved Monday by the parliament’s Internal Administration Committee, aim to raise the threshold for successful recall petitions. A key change would require the number of votes to recall an official to exceed the number of votes they received in their original election.
The move comes amidst escalating political clashes between the DPP and the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) since President Lai Ching-te assumed office in May. The KMT and its allies currently hold a legislative majority, which they have used to challenge President Lai’s power. A previous attempt by the KMT to significantly expand the legislature’s powers, including the ability to summon the president for questioning, was struck down by Taiwan’s top court in October as unconstitutional.
The proposed recall amendments now face a vote in the full parliament, a process expected to take several weeks. Even if passed, the changes would still require President Lai’s signature to become law.
The DPP’s initiative follows threats from some within the party to launch recall campaigns against KMT lawmakers in response to ongoing political battles. The KMT’s agenda includes further proposals aimed at shifting the balance of power, such as reducing central government tax revenue and increasing funding for local governments – moves which have fueled concerns within the DPP about the potential for further recall attempts.
