Taipei: Taiwan’s political parties should focus on compromise to prevent further polarization, an American scholar said, after a mass recall vote on Saturday failed to unseat any of the 24 targeted Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers, allowing the opposition to maintain control of the Legislature.

According to Focus Taiwan, Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the Indo-Pacific Program at the U.S.-based German Marshall Fund, emphasized that divided government is not uncommon in a democracy. She highlighted the detrimental impact of deep polarization on Taiwan’s national security, urging both the ruling and opposition parties to find common ground to enhance governance and improve outcomes for the populace.

In addition to the 24 KMT lawmakers, suspended Hsinchu Mayor Kao Hung-an also survived a recall vote, despite facing a corruption scandal. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), in the wake of the vote, acknowledged the failure of the mass recall effort, interpreting the outcome as a display of civic engagement rather than partisan rivalry. The results further cemented the KMT’s status as the largest party in the Legislature.

In 2024, although the DPP retained the presidency with Lai Ching-te’s election victory, it lost its majority in the Legislative Yuan. Currently, the KMT holds 52 seats, including 13 at-large lawmakers, while the DPP has 51 and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) eight. Two independents align with the KMT, which frequently collaborates with the TPP to pass preferred legislation, a practice that has drawn criticism from the DPP.

In response, the DPP initiated recall efforts targeting 31 KMT lawmakers, aiming to reclaim a majority. Following Saturday’s votes, seven additional recall cases are scheduled for August 23. Michael Cunningham, a research fellow at the Heritage Foundation’s Asian Studies Center, noted that while recalling an elected official can be justified in certain circumstances, mass recall campaigns should not become routine, as it detracts from officials’ ability to focus on their responsibilities.

Joshua Freedman, a non-resident fellow in the Asia Program at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, expressed concern that the recall results may intensify the KMT’s opposition to DPP governance. He cautioned that political leaders preoccupied with partisan disputes might struggle to address pressures from Beijing and manage increasingly complex relations with Washington.

Japanese scholar Yoshiyuki Ogasawara, chair professor at National Tsing Hua University, described the recall vote results as a significant victory for the China-friendly KMT and a dismissal of the DPP’s efforts to shield Taiwan from Chinese Communist Party (CCP) influence. Ogasawara expressed apprehension about potential CCP infiltration in Taiwan and predicted challenges for the DPP in its attempt to recall seven more KMT lawmakers in August.