NEW TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨), will stage a major anti-recall rally Saturday (July 19) at Banqiao First Stadium (板橋第一運動場) in New Taipei City. The gathering aims to mobilize supporters to defend five of its legislators facing removal efforts. The 4 p.m. event represents a significant escalation in Taiwan's increasingly contentious political landscape as the KMT attempts to protect vulnerable representatives from districts across New Taipei. Those targeted include Hung Mong-kai (洪孟楷) from the coastal district of Tamsui (淡水), Yeh Yuan-chih (葉元之) from Banqiao (板橋), Chang Chih-lun (張智倫) from Zhonghe (中和), Lin Te-fu (林德福) from Yonghe (永和), and Liao Hsien-hsiang (廖先翔) from Xizhi (汐止).
The party's campaign has already gained momentum with high-profile support from KMT mayors of major cities. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) and Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) have appeared at recent events wearing white T-shirts emblazoned with "I Disagree" (我不同意). These shirts will be sold at the rally for NT$390 (approximately US$13.30). The KMT has taken to social media to defend its legislators, claiming in a Facebook post that the targeted representatives have successfully secured NT$37.3 billion (approximately US$1.27 billion) in infrastructure funding for New Taipei residents. The party characterizes the recall efforts as politically motivated attacks from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨).
Party officials have issued a rallying cry for supporters to stand united against what they describe as an inappropriate use of Taiwan's recall mechanism. The KMT portrays the situation as a power grab by the DPP rather than legitimate constituent dissatisfaction, urging voters to protect representatives they claim are authentic voices for local interests. Political analysts suggest the Saturday gathering could prove pivotal in determining whether the KMT can generate sufficient grassroots resistance to thwart the recall campaigns that threaten to further diminish their legislative influence in the densely populated New Taipei region. ◼