Taiwan votes in high-stakes poll

RECALL ELECTION COULD UPEND BALANCE OF POWER IN PARLIAMENT

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Taiwanese voters turned out at schools, temples and community centres yesterday to cast their ballots in a high-stakes recall election that could give President Lai Ching-te's party control of parliament.

Civic groups backed by Lai's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) are seeking to unseat 31 lawmakers belonging to the main opposition Kuomintang Party (KMT), who they accuse of being pro-China and a threat to the democratic island's security.

The KMT, which wants closer ties with Beijing, controls parliament with the help of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) and has slammed the unprecedented recall effort as a DPP power grab.

Polling stations opened around Taiwan at 8am (local time) with 24 KMT lawmakers facing potential recall. Elections for another seven KMT lawmakers will be held on Aug 23.