Taiwan holds recall votes against opposition lawmakers, nuclear referendum on ballot
Taiwanese voters went to the polls Saturday in a second round of recall elections targeting seven opposition Kuomintang (KMT) legislators, alongside a referendum on whether to restart the island’s last operating nuclear reactor.
The recalls follow a July wave of 24 cases against KMT lawmakers and one Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) mayor, all of which failed to meet the required threshold. Supporters of the latest efforts accuse the KMT of blocking key legislation and leaning toward Beijing. Opponents counter that the recall drive threatens Taiwan’s democratic stability and seeks to weaken the opposition.
On energy policy, voters are deciding the fate of the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant in southern Taiwan, situated on an active fault line. Advocates of restarting the reactor say nuclear energy offers a vital low-carbon option for ensuring grid stability. Environmental groups warn it would delay renewable investments and extend safety and waste-related risks.
Authorities said results from both the recalls and the referendum are expected late Saturday. The outcomes could reshape Taiwan’s parliamentary balance and influence its future energy strategy.
