Taiwan holds crucial recall election

Taiwanese voters turned out at schools, temples, and community centers on Saturday (Jul 26) to cast their ballots in a high-stakes recall election that could give President Lai Ching-te's party control of the parliament. Civic groups backed by Lai's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) are seeking to unseat 31 lawmakers belonging to the main opposition Kuomintang party, 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 8 am with 24 KMT lawmakers facing potential recall. Elections for another seven KMT lawmakers will be held on Aug 23.

In the capital Taipei, people queued in school hallways and temples. AFP saw an elderly man arrive at a primary school in an ambulance, which had brought him from the hospital so he could vote in favor of the recall. A 71-year-old woman surnamed Tseng told AFP she was voting against the recall, arguing the process was \"costly\" and the government should instead \"focus on improving the economy and social welfare\".

According to the source: CNA.