In response to the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) politically motivated recall campaign, the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) gathered supporters in front of DPP headquarters on July 20. All eight TPP legislators were present, joined by respected public figures and opinion leaders, including former DPP legislator Kuo Cheng-liang, DPP founding member Hsu Kuo-tai, social media influencer Chen Chih-han, former National Taiwan University President(NTU) Kuan Chung-ming, as well as KMT legislators Lai Shyh-bao, Wang Hung-wei, Hsu Chiao-hsin, Lo Chih-chiang, Lee Yen-hsiu, and Wu Tsung-hsien. TPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang, together with the crowd of 20,000, chanted ‘Vote NO on the recall’. 

Chairman Huang recalled standing on the same road on May 19 last year alongside former Chairman Ko Wen-je. At that time, Ko expressed goodwill toward President Lai Ching-te, urging him to honor his promises to voters and leading the country with unity. However, Ko later became the target of relentless political persecution. Despite President Tsai Ing-wen’s pledge on election night to lead with “humility, humility, and more humility,” the past eight years have been marked instead by “arrogance, arrogance, and more arrogance.” Though Tsai declared that no Taiwanese should have to apologize for their national identity, the DPP has spent the past eight years finding enemies within its own people and dividing society. 

Huang sharply criticized President Lai, asking, “If no one needs to apologize for their national identity, why does Lai treat everyone who opposes the DPP as “impurities”?” He denounced the recall campaign as a declaration by the DPP that it refuses to accept any form of oversight—that only their voice is permitted in Taiwan. “The TPP will not tolerate the DPP trampling on this land or allow Lai Ching-te to act like an emperor,” Huang declared. “We stand here for Taiwan’s democracy and the next generation. If we let Lai and Ker Chien-ming succeed, Taiwan will become the very thing we abhor." He urged all to vote on July 26: “Stop the Recall and Safeguard Taiwan!”

Chen Pei-chi, wife of Chairman Ko, also attended, stating that as an ordinary citizen with basic legal knowledge, she believes it is a fundamental principle in democracy that opposition parties scrutinize the ruling party. “It is unacceptable to launch a recall simply because of disagreements in legislative decisions—this is authoritarianism,” she said.

DPP founding member Hsu Kuo-tai lamented that “a government without compassion leaves the people in misery.” Former DPP legislator Kuo Cheng-liang, who has grown distant from the party, added that after nearly three decades in the DPP, it no longer upholds the values of integrity, diligence, and love for the homeland. He condemned the recall as the most aggressive in history, calling for opposition unity to maintain the legislative majority and say no to authoritarianism.

Social media influencer Chen Chih-han criticized the DPP’s manipulation of democracy as sheer tomfoolery, saying, “The people have had enough.” Former NTU President Kuan Chung-ming expressed deep frustration, stating that the DPP has obstructed democratic progress and refused to heed public opinion. “They hampered legislative procedures and orchestrated recalls against lawmakers that were democratically elected by the people—true representatives of public will—not the artificial kind manufactured by protests.”

TPP legislator Chang Chi-kai listed bills passed by the opposition to support workers, police, firefighters, teachers, and civil servants, which the DPP has threatened to reverse if the recalls succeed. He said voting “no” against the recall is a vote for democracy and rule of law, and a stand against political persecution. Legislator Chen Chao-chi criticized the DPP for betraying its past ideals of fair elections, judicial justice, and independent media, saying it now abuses judicial power and rescind democratic outcomes. “In the past, we wanted the party, government, and military out of the media. Now, it's all about the DPP, prosecutors, and the media being in it together!” Legislator Mạch Ngọc Trân called out to President Lai: “The people are your family, not your enemies!” Legislator Lin Yi-chun said the DPP has become what it once opposed: “If the recall succeeds, we’ll be left with a corrupt, authoritarian government.”

Legislator Huang Shan-shan cited former Chairman Ko Wen-je’s vision: social harmony, inter-party cooperation, and cross-strait peace. “But the DPP now leads the charge in dividing society, launching recalls, and labeling dissenters as ‘impurities’ or CCP sympathizers.” Legislator Liu Shih-pin added, “Voting ‘disagree’ is about defending the Legislative Yuan, Taiwan’s democracy, and the balance of power.”

At a time when Taiwan needs unity, Vote ‘No’ on July 26 and say ‘no’ to Lai Ching-te and safeguard Taiwan and our hard-fought democracy.