Voting against MPs of “Pro-China”

Deng Pu did not see himself as an activist for much of his life, but it changed last year.

He was angry at the undemocratic behavior of Taiwanese lawmakers and the disclosure of China’s influence on parliament, and he joined thousands of actions in the street protests. Two months ago, he signed with a campaign group.

He had never done these things before. “The social movements in the past were important, but honestly, they didn’t make me angry,” the 39-year-old photographer told the BBC. “We are citizens … we need to make sure our society adheres to its democratic institutions and spirit.”

Now, this anger is reaching a turning point. On Saturday, Taiwan will vote to kick out more than twenty lawmakers accused of being too close to China in the so-called “Dabamian” or a major recall.

An unprecedented vote could change the balance of political power in Taiwan. But it has deepened political divisions, with both sides of the debate claiming to be the savior of Taiwan’s divine democracy.

It began last January elections when voters chose William Lai, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as its president, but dominated the opposition in parliamentary legislative rule.

In the coming months, the main opposition Kuomintang worked with smaller Taiwan BJP and independents to block DPP bills and pass controversial legislation. This includes limiting the power of the Constitutional Court, cutting government budgets, and raising the bar for holding a recall vote.

These moves aroused the anger of some Taiwanese, who believed they were confusing them while strengthening the opposition’s parliamentary power.

In May 2024, thousands of people began protesting in a protest known as the “Blue Birds Movement”, which was named after the Taipei Street where many people gathered.

Many in the movement believe that the opposition led by Kuomintang is known for its relatively friendly position in China, influenced by Beijing and secretly promoted China’s agenda in Taiwan’s legislature.

The party denied that, but suspicion intensified when a group of Kuentan lawmakers visited China last year and were welcomed by Wang Huning, the top Chinese Communist Party official.

Citizen groups in the Bluebirds campaign launched petitions to expel various Kuentan lawmakers, while Kuentan’s supporters retaliated by doing the same for some DPP MPs.

So far, the petition for 31 MP seats has received enough initial support to conduct a final recall vote. All of these seats are owned by Kuomintang – if enough seats are successfully recalled, it could mean that DPP ends up with a majority in the Legislature.

Although Taiwan has had a recall ticket before, it has never seen so many in such a short time.

On Saturday, citizens of 24 districts will be on the simple or negative: whether they agree to launch legislators. The remaining recall cases will be held in another round of votes in August.

In each district, if the votes exceed 25% of registered voters and more than half of the recalls are approved, the seats will be evacuated and a by-election must be held within three months.

This means voter turnout is crucial to the success of a great recall – which is why civic groups have been flooding social media and sensation on the streets.

On a recent weekday night, Deng Pu and several members of his civic group stood outside the Taipei Metro Station. Some people held up banners and chants of scriptures, while others distributed paper fans and tissue bags with “Let’s vote together” and “Say yes to recall”.

Mr Dunn admitted that with the recall of votes going on at Kuentan’s stronghold, the party could be reelected in the by-election even if they did succeed.

He insists that even so, the great recall is worth it because it is a way to “correct our democracy.”

Regardless of the outcome, it will “send a strong signal to all political parties that you must respect the latest aspirations of Taiwanese citizens.”

Mr Deng acknowledged that many of the Bluebirds were supporters of the DPP, but denied that civic groups were funded by the party – a theory driven by the opposition.

“We don’t care if the DPP wins. What’s more urgent for us is that we want a normal parliament that is not close to China and the Chinese Communist Party.”

He also had a weak response to the DPP, saying: “From the first recall petition until now, the citizen groups have been telling the DPP that citizens are here and many of us…we strongly call on the DPP to join us.”

DPP initially tried to distance itself from the big recall rate. But ultimately it showed support, Lai stressed that the DPP “must be consistent with the power of the people” and ordered party officials to assist in the pro-recalling group to “protect the country.”

This inevitably fueled the opposition’s allegation that the DPP secretly designed the great recall and the Bluebird movement, which showed that the DPP could get the most political benefit from it.

It not only has the chance to win a permanent majority in the Legislature. Even if Kuomintang eventually wins in the by-election, the DPP will hold a majority in a few weeks, giving enough time to comply with key laws.

The anti-summoning protests by Kuomintang and other opposition groups have attracted thousands of people. Last weekend, at a rally like Banqiao’s new Taipei district, supporters waved banners while crossing their arms and recited “Don’t vote.”

When they took the stage, the speaker condemned the great recall while describing William Lai as a Taiwanese democracy fascist and authoritarian traitor.

The big screen plays a transparent video of Lai, making him look like Adolf Hitler with the words “fuhrer lai” and the slogan “Green Terror”, a term for the party colors and white horror of the DPP, a period of authoritarian rule and political repression under Kuomintang.

The words echoed Beijing’s remarks, and Beijing wades while watching from a distance. Its Taiwan Affairs Office accused Lai of “managing dictatorship under the guise of democracy” and “using various means that can suppress the opposition.”

“Recalling members are elected by the majority of voters in their area. If they are not good enough, they can vote in the next election,” said Ralili attendee Muziri. “Why should we use this evil method to get rid of them?”

The 68-year-old night shift worker insists that lawmakers are simply because they belong to Kuomintang, and that Bluebird activists are working for the DPP.

“You can’t let one party knock down another party, it’s not democratic,” Ms. MU said.

“I’m in line with the blue,” she added. “But I’m not against green. I’m not here because I support Kuentan, but to protect democracy.”

But there are also many Taiwans on the fence.

Banqiao resident Peggy Lin watched the anti-recall rally outside the venue. Like several other bystanders as the BBC calls it, she is confused by the fuss of the big recall.

“I don’t know what the hell is going on, I didn’t follow the debate at all…so I have no objection,” the 43-year-old child care worker said.

“After reading more, I will vote and decide based on how I feel about it that day.”

Analysts say that no matter the outcome, the recall will have a lasting impact on Taiwan’s polarized society.

Political battles sometimes become annoying. Lawmakers quarreled in parliament over political deadlock, while activists faced abuse and abuse. Mr Deng told the BBC that he and his teammates were beaten or pushed by residents who opposed the vote.

If there is no scandal, the vote has not disappeared: officials found many fake signatures, many late voters, in recall petitions targeting DPP and Kuomintang lawmakers.

“The concept that the vote will consolidate four-year term is not given, but a condition that is conditional on performance and subject to regular review. Political polarization could be worse,” said Wen-Ti Sung, a political scientist at the Australian National University’s Taiwan Research Program.

But the Big Memories are also “creating space for new political activism,” especially for DPP supporters, who he added, he believes is the overall boon for Taiwan’s civil society resilience.

If many of the recalls are successful, Ian Chong, a non-resident scholar in Carnegie China, said that if many of the recalls are successful, “a signal that it will send to Taiwanese politicians is that they should be cautious about the distance in public sentiment… They won’t get too far because of the consequences.”

“But if it disappears, then politicians are encouraged to do what they want,” he noted.

“This will exacerbate polarization… It’s easy for politicians to record the great recall as another civil society movement that doesn’t have enough momentum.”

But if a close but not conclusive result is achieved overall, it could mean that “Kuomintang and DPP must ultimately seek compromise and work together”.

Dr. Chong added: “It may not be a bad thing for Taiwan”.