Voters on Saturday turned out in about one-third of Taiwan’s constituencies to decide whether 24 lawmakers from the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), as well as suspended Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao (高虹安), formerly a member of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), would be removed from office in an unprecedented recall movement seeking to reshape the legislature.
In the 113-seat Legislative Yuan, the KMT, KMT-leaning independents and the TPP together hold a majority with 62 seats, while the ruling Democratic Progressive Party holds 51 seats.
None of the targeted lawmakers, who were elected just 18 months ago, were recalled, with most of the recalls losing by sizeable margins, Central Election Commission data showed.
Another seven KMT lawmakers are to face recall elections on Aug. 23.
Many people thought that wave of excitement for the recalls shown in the streets and online would spark a prairie fire that could tear down the opposition-led legislature, which has been tarnished by abuses of power.
Civic groups have tirelessly advocated for the recalls of KMT lawmakers, collecting boxes of petitions and signatures. Many hoped the effort would shake the system to remind lawmakers of the weight of public opinion.
However, reality is cruel. Idealism has been crushed. The recall results threw a wet blanket on the idealists who did not realize the deeply rooted and entwined political power blocs of the pan-blue and pan-green camps.
On Friday, the eve of the recall vote, the KMT and the TPP rejected all seven of President William Lai’s (賴清德) nominees for the Constitutional Court.
After the recall failed, the surviving legislators would retain their arrogance, and feel empowered to dismiss public opinion and treat citizens as “trash.” Central government budgets would continue to face malicious cuts amid political struggles. The Constitutional Court, as the last line of defense of constitutional governance, would remain paralyzed by the opposition’s political calculations.
The recall movement reveals a political reality. Political parties have strongholds in some districts where voters’ loyalty is unshakable. The influence of emotional mobilization and grassroots organization outweighs voters’ rational judgements of right and wrong. That could not be changed overnight.
From an emotional standpoint, the recall efforts should not be defined by the results of the vote. The movement has united localists, staunch supporters of the Republic of China and voters who usually appear indifferent to politics, but share a deep love for Taiwan. It was the largest-scale lesson in democracy that has turned complex constitutional issues into topics that every citizen could discuss.
Although the recall fell short, 1.3 million petition signatures sent a powerful message that the public has sharp eyes and that politicians do not have unlimited power. Crossing the line would come at a cost. Even the cost might not be stepping down immediately, it would at least be an indelible taint on their legacy.
From the “Bluebird movement” to widespread civic recall efforts, countless strangers have connected with each other through shared beliefs. This spontaneous, bottom-up organization is the most precious asset of Taiwan’s democracy.
To safeguard Taiwan, we have no right to be pessimistic. Citizens will not retreat. This tiny speck of light will not go out. Let us take a breath and press forward.
Lin Han is a junior-high school teacher.
Translated by Fion Khan
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