The result was widely seen as a major setback for the island’s leader, William Lai Ching-te, and a turning point for the so-called Blue-White alliance between the two opposition parties.
Saturday’s unprecedented recall vote, which targeted 24 KMT lawmakers accused of blocking key legislation and jeopardising the island’s security, ended with none losing their seats.
A second round next month will target seven more KMT legislators, but observers say the chances of their removal are even slimmer given their stronger support in home districts.
“This wasn’t just a failed recall – it was a political miscalculation that re-energised the opposition,” said a KMT official who spoke on condition of anonymity. “More importantly, it allowed us to deepen coordination with the TPP in ways voters clearly supported.”
The outcome has given the informal KMT-TPP coalition momentum heading into the 2026 local government elections and even the race in 2028 to elect the island’s next leader.
