By a friendly and casual staff reporter duo
Approaching signature threshold for petitions in Taichung, barely 10% away from requirement
It's getting hot in the kitchen for some Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators! Recall drives against several KMT bigwigs are progressing swiftly, with campaigners pushing hard to reach crucial thresholds.
The recalls against KMT Legislator Yen Kuan-heng in Taichung are on the verge of hitting their target. The campaigners confidently boasted they just need around 500 more signatures from locals to surpass the second-stage threshold. Similarly, campaigns against KMT lawmakers Johnny Chiang, Yang Chiung-ying, and Lo Ting-wei are also closing in on the 10% threshold, aiming for around 800 signatures against Chiang and about 2,000 against Yang.
As for Lo, the campaigners have rejoiced that they swept past the threshold figure over the weekend, collecting a whopping 27,337 signatures. They plan on continuing their signature-gathering spree, keeping in mind that some signatures could be discarded due to errors or inaccuracies.
The recalls against KMT legislators Liao Wei-hsiang and Huang Chien-hao have already reached the 10% requirement, amassing 32,921 and 36,323 signatures, respectively.
Hualien County activists announced they had surpassed the required 19,377 signatures in their drive to recall KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi. Meanwhile, in Hsinchu City, the campaigners against KMT legislator Cheng Cheng-chien and suspended Taiwan People's Party Hsinchu mayor Ann Kao delivered their petitions to the Hsinchu City Election Commission, gathering 53,131 signatures against Cheng and 51,419 signatures against Kao.
Recall campaigners in Taoyuan claimed they had reached the threshold for all six KMT legislators in the city. Groups pushing for the recall of five KMT lawmakers in Taipei also stated they had amassed the required number of signatures.
A Quick Look at the Bigger Picture
The recall campaigns are a key part of the broader battle by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to challenge the opposition's majority in the legislature. A total of 34 KMT lawmakers are currently under the spotlight, with a possible impact that could worsen partisan divisions and political instability. The Central Election Commission has set deadlines in May and June for the second stage of recall procedures, with voting mandated to take place within a 20 to 60 day window after a recall case is established.
Reference(s):1. CNA News2. Taiwan News3. Today's Titan4. Focus Taiwan News Channel5. Central Election Commission of the Republic of China (Taiwan)
Stay tuned for more updates on this thrilling political rollercoaster! #TaiwanPolitics #RecallCampaigns #KMT
- The campaigners for the recall of KMT Legislator Yen Kuan-heng in Taichung are aiming to gather around 500 more signatures to meet the second-stage threshold, while the drives against Johnny Chiang, Yang Chiung-ying, and Lo Ting-wei are aiming for about 800 signatures against Chiang and around 2,000 against Yang.
- In Hualien County, activists have surpassed the required 19,377 signatures in their drive to recall KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi, and recall campaigners in Taoyuan claim they have reached the threshold for all six KMT legislators in the city.
- The recall campaigns against KMT legislators are a significant part of the broader challenge by the Democratic Progressive Party to contest the opposition's majority in the legislature, with a total of 34 KMT lawmakers under the spotlight.
- The Central Election Commission has set deadlines in May and June for the second stage of recall procedures, and voting will occur within a 20 to 60 day window after a recall case is established.
