In May 2024, thousands began holding protests in what became known as the Bluebird movement, partially named after the Taipei street where many had gathered.
Many in the movement believe the opposition, led by the Kuomintang which is known for its relatively friendlier position on China, is being influenced by Beijing and secretly pushing China’s agenda in Taiwan’s legislature.
The party has denied this, but suspicion grew when a group of Kuomintang lawmakers visited China last year and were welcomed by top-ranking Chinese Communist Party official Wang Huning.
Civic groups in the Bluebird movement launched petitions to oust various Kuomintang lawmakers, while Kuomintang supporters retaliated by doing the same to some DPP lawmakers.
So far, petitions for 31 lawmakers’ seats have received enough preliminary support to proceed with a final recall vote.
All these seats are held by the Kuomintang – and if enough are successfully recalled, it could mean the DPP eventually gains the majority in the legislature.
While Taiwan has held recall votes before, it has never seen so many within such a short space of time.