Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Secretary-General Lin Yu-chang (林右昌) yesterday said that his party would fully support civil groups aiding in the recall votes against 24 Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers and Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao (高虹安), a former member the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), which are scheduled for late next month.
During a visit to Hualien County, a KMT stronghold in eastern Taiwan, Lin expressed gratitude to residents for gathering 28,139 valid signatures — 67 percent more than the required 19,377 — to advance the recall vote against KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅?萁), despite various challenges.
Recalling politicians is a fundamental right rooted in public will, Lin said, adding that the DPP was committed to steadfastly pledging resources to civic initiatives.
Photo: CNA
Lin’s visit to eastern Taiwan followed the Central Election Commission’s (CEC) announcement on Friday that it has approved the first batch of recall motions against 24 KMT lawmakers and Kao.
The recall vote would be on July 26, the CEC said.
The DPP holds 51 seats in the legislature, while the KMT has 52 and the TPP has eight. Two seats are held by independents, but they are closely aligned with the KMT.
Other key figures facing recall votes include Taipei lawmakers Wang Hung-wei (王鴻薇), Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯), Lee Yen-hsiu (李彥秀), Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) and Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆).
Eight Chinese naval vessels and 24 military aircraft were detected crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait between 6am yesterday and 6am today, the Ministry of National Defense said this morning. The aircraft entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern air defense identification zones, the ministry said. The armed forces responded with mission aircraft, naval vessels and shore-based missile systems to closely monitor the situation, it added. Eight naval vessels, one official ship and 36 aircraft sorties were spotted in total, the ministry said.
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