Pro-Recall Campaigners, KMT Lawmakers Rally Before Recall Vote

TaiwanPlus News

Pro-recall campaigners stand with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, while Kuomintang heavyweights come out to support opposition lawmakers facing recall. Both camps are gearing up ahead of a crucial vote on Saturday, which could shift power in the legislature. It follows months of campaigning to remove opposition lawmakers after physical fights in the legislature, major changes to the constitutional court, and budget cuts.

Transcript

00:00Waving to constituents in the mountainous areas of central Taiwan,

00:07Gomindang lawmaker and Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Jiang

00:10sweeps the streets of his district in Taichung,

00:13much like he did just over a year ago while he was seeking election.

00:17But this time, he's seeking to defend his position.

00:20Jiang is one of dozens of KMT lawmakers

00:23who have faced campaigns to remove them from office this summer

00:26after voters were left frustrated by a series of controversial bills

00:30and major budget cuts spearheaded by the opposition alliance.

00:34And on Saturday, the final seven will all be put to a vote.

00:41The stakes are high after the first round of votes in July.

00:45All 24 KMT lawmakers survived that recall vote,

00:48a massive defeat for the recall campaigners.

00:51But the final seven could still shift power dynamics in the legislature.

00:55The DPP holds a minority 51 seats in the 113-seat legislature,

01:00compared to the opposition KMT caucus plus Taiwan People's Party's 62 seats.

01:06But if at least six KMT lawmakers are removed

01:08and replaced with DPP lawmakers in a by-election,

01:12this would give the DPP a slight edge in the legislature,

01:15enough to overcome the opposition bloc.

01:18It's a major challenge, made even more daunting

01:20by the fact that none of the 24 campaigns in July succeeded.

01:24But those wanting to see change in the legislature are not backing down,

01:28and they are rallying day and night to win over voters.

01:34Just days before the vote,

01:36pro-recall groups gathered at a night market in Nantou, central Taiwan,

01:39to call for support.

01:41And just across the street,

01:42Kuomintang lawmaker Yeo Hao,

01:44who they're trying to unseat,

01:45held a rally of his own.

01:47Flanked by Taoyuan Mayor Zhang Shan Zheng,

01:49and Taipei lawmaker Wang Hongwei,

01:51who survived a recall vote herself last month,

01:54Yeo said he was confident that he would keep his position.

01:56No matter how much it is,

01:57we can't do it with all of us.

01:59We can't do it with all of us.

02:00That's why we have all of us in this country.

02:03We have all of the people in this country.

02:05We have all of the people in this 138-year-old

02:07that's been used in the local government.

02:09We are very excited.

02:11Two years ago, I was able to get him to get him.

02:13That's when I think Nantou's family,

02:15I feel like it's a chance to give Yohao this young man a chance.

02:18It's not the same.

02:19It's been a year and a half.

02:22In a year and a half,

02:23Nantou-Chang-Chin has been convinced that it's been for him.

02:24This is what you feel like.

02:26It's not to give him a chance to try it.

02:27It's to keep him in the way.

02:29We need to keep him in the way.

02:30Meanwhile, pro-recall groups were joined by members

02:33of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party,

02:35which has since come out as a staunch supporter

02:37of the recall campaigns.

02:39This year, we've had 726, we've had a lot of errors.

02:43But it's not to give him a chance.

02:45It's to keep him in the way that we want to go.

02:49In 823, we have a very important task.

02:51It's to be able to vote.

02:53To be able to vote for the same vote.

02:56The pro- and anti-recall groups were met with mixed reactions.

03:00We don't have any influence on our citizens.

03:03But as a president, we are more like the government.

03:09We don't agree with the same vote.

03:12We don't agree with the same vote.

03:14We don't agree with the same vote.

03:15We don't agree with the same vote.

03:16But 726 is a pretty good one.

03:19And 823, we have been out for a year for a half.

03:23And if you say it will be a good one, we don't know.

03:25But I know that if we don't come out for a vote,

03:27we won't be able to vote for the election.

03:30Apathy was also a common response.

03:32Tired from a year of legislative fights,

03:34some voters in these key central counties

03:37just want the fighting to be over.

03:39I don't know.

03:41We are in a meeting.

03:42We are in a meeting.

03:43We are in a meeting.

03:44We are in a meeting.

03:45I am not interested in this.

03:46So we don't agree with the situation.

03:47So we won't be able to vote for us.

03:48So we have no impact to vote for us.

03:49So we have no impact.

03:50We have no impact.

03:51A young age in this year will be able to vote for us.

03:54whether voters remain apathetic or are moved by one camp

04:23will know when voters turn out this Saturday,

04:26which will determine whether these opposition lawmakers

04:28have another chance to continue serving in the legislature.

04:32Scott Huang and Tiffany Huang in Nantou for Taiwan Plus.

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