KEELUNG (TVBS News) — Keelung Mayor George Hsieh (謝國樑) faces a recall vote on Oct. 13, following a successful petition by a civic group. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) secretary-general Lin Yu-chang (林右昌) stated on Tuesday (Aug. 20) that the recall represents a "victory for the awakening of Keelung citizens."
Lin, a former mayor of Keelung, visited a local temple and Renai Market (仁愛市場) with residents on Tuesday. He noted that despite the Hsieh administration's attempts to suppress the petition, the group gathered 43,000 signatures. Lin described the situation as "David and Goliath" and emphasized the public's desire to end the current administration's governance.
Lin criticized Hsieh's tenure, accusing him of depleting Keelung's resources. He pointed out that Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) officials have recently campaigned for Hsieh, praising his performance. Lin countered this by stating that Hsieh is the least satisfactory mayor in the nation, making it illogical to claim he has done well.
Lin also stressed that the DPP alone could not have gathered so many signatures, indicating that recall supporters come from various political parties. He stated that everyone hopes Keelung will not regress further.
As the recall vote approaches, the political climate in Keelung remains tense. Citizens and political observers will closely watch the developments leading up to Oct. 13.