TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taichung voters cast ballots Saturday (Aug. 23) in a high-stakes referendum on nuclear power and recall elections targeting three Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) legislators, Taiwan's main opposition party. The targeted lawmakers include Legislative Yuan, Taiwan's parliament, Vice President Chiang Chi-chen (江啟臣) and Yang Chiung-ying (楊瓊瓔). The dual elections represent a critical test of public sentiment on both energy policy and political accountability in Taiwan's democracy.
Chiang Chi-chen cast his vote at 8:10 a.m. at Feng Chuen Elementary School (豐村國小) with his wife, Liu Tzu-ling (劉姿伶), by his side. He expressed to the media that he really wanted a cup of coffee to wake himself up. Liu noted Chiang's exhaustion and praised the campaign team's dedication, thanking them for their hard work during the intense political battle.
Yang Chiung-ying arrived at Taya Elementary School (大雅國小) before 9 a.m. with her parents, projecting confidence despite facing potential removal from office. She shared that she had slept well last night and emphasized the joy of voting with her parents. Yang expressed that she planned to resume work immediately after voting, demonstrating her determination to continue serving constituents regardless of the recall election outce.
Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) also participated in the voting process, arriving at Jianxing Elementary School (健行國小) in the North District (北區) before 9 a.m. The mayor, also a KMT member, chose not to engage with the media, maintaining silence on the politically sensitive recall elections. Her presence underscored the high stakes for the opposition party in Taiwan's central city. ◼