The KMT Chair Eric Chu (朱立倫) has vowed that his party will seek to introduce impeachment motions against President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and his administration on the anniversary of his inauguration. While originally stated at a rally opposing the DPP on Saturday, Chu reaffirmed his promise at an impromptu press conference following the news that the KMT’s New Taipei City headquarters was searched Monday morning as part of the ghost signature investigation.
The so-called “ghost signature” case refers to the investigation surrounding the recall campaign around several DPP lawmakers, which was originally launched by members of the KMT. The recall petition was discovered to contain over 19,000 fraudulent or erroneous signatures nationwide, including nearly 2,000 deceased individuals. In conjunction with this investigation, the New Taipei party headquarters were searched this morning, with the secretary and secretary-general taken from their homes for questioning, according to KMT New Taipei Chapter Chair Huang Chih-hsiung (黃志雄).
Following the news, Chu called a press conference to launch the recall campaign of President Lai, a move he originally telegraphed at the Anti-DPP rally last Saturday. He alleged that, under Lai, Taiwan’s democracy has entered a “dark era”, with prosecutors and investigators constantly attacking the opposition party. As for Lai himself, Chu accused him of being too focused on fighting, saying that under him, elected legislators have become accomplices and deserve recall.
He called on representatives from all levels of government to assist in the joint-signature recall campaign against DPP legislators, and eventually the president himself. Chu said that the KMT caucus will propose recall and impeachment motions in the Legislature on May 20, the anniversary of Lai’s inauguration– a move he asserted will become the most important democratic movement in Taiwan.
The chosen date is likely because officials cannot be recalled if they have served less than one year, according to the Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Act. Further, the motion must be introduced by one-fourth of all legislators and approved by two-thirds of all legislators. Even with their current majority, the opposition party coalition currently falls short of the number needed to pass the motion by 14 seats, although it could change in the future should recall campaigns against DPP legislators prove successful. If the recall motion successfully passes the legislature, it would then move to a popular vote.
In a response published Monday evening, DPP spokesperson Han Ying (韓瑩) accused the KMT and party leader Eric Chu of putting more resources towards fighting the ruling party over the actual threat of dictatorship. Ying reminded that the KMT were the first party to violate recall laws that they pushed through the Legislature themselves, and accused them of turning to anger rather than reflecting on their actions or working for the people.