Political Compromise Needed After Recall Vote Deals Blow to Taiwan President

Results show how ruling DPP's 'resist China, protect Taiwan' messaging backfired

- Yip Wai Yee

TAIPEI - Taiwan President Lai Ching-te and his ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) must find a way of reaching out to what will likely be an emboldened opposition-controlled legislature if there is any hope of breaking the island's political gridlock, analysts said.

This comes after voters in Taiwan overwhelmingly rejected an attempt to oust 24 lawmakers of the main opposition party, the Beijing-friendly Kuomintang (KMT), in an election on July 26 that dealt a major blow to the Lai administration.

"The results of the recall vote showed that the public are in favour of maintaining the current balance of power in politics," said Professor Liu Jia-wei from National Taipei University's public administration and policy department.

"The DPP must now respect public opinion and make some compromises with the opposition on some things to avoid further political polarisation," she added.

For a start, Mr Lai could show some goodwill by consulting the opposition before selecting his justice nominees for Taiwan's top court, said Prof Liu.

Taiwan has been paralysed by legislative gridlock for the past 1½ years, with its various parties unable to come to a consensus on most issues. On more than one occasion, lawmakers have engaged in verbal attacks and physical scuffles in the Legislative Yuan.

On July 26, voters in every targeted constituency rejected the recall effort, dashing the DPP's hopes of regaining control of the legislature, where it has been unable to pass laws since a January 2024 election as it does not have a majority.