TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Voters across Taiwan headed to the polls Saturday (Aug. 23) to decide whether to recall seven legislators from the opposition Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) and whether to restart the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant (核三) in Pingtung County. Members of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) cast their ballots in what represents a critical test of the island's democratic processes. The dual voting exercise combines legislative accountability measures with contentious energy policy decisions that could reshape Taiwan's political and environmental landscape.
President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) cast his vote at Anping Junior High School (安平國中) in Tainan at 9:25 a.m., arriving alone to participate in this pivotal referendum. President Lai appeared in high spirits after voting, greeting the media with a smile before joining local officials for other duties. He then accompanied Legislator Lin Chun-hsien (林俊憲), Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che (黃偉哲), and Deputy Mayor Yeh Tse-shan (葉澤山) to inspect post-typhoon reconstruction progress in Tainan's Cigu District (七股).
Pingtung County Magistrate Chou Chun-mi (周春米) voted at Chung Cheng Elementary School (中正國小) in Pingtung City, later voicing her concerns with the media. She stated that the referendum on reopening the Maanshan plant is extremely unfair to the people of Pingtung. Chou pointed out the lack of investigation on the plant's safety, the impact of radiation, earthquake risks, and the unresolved issue of nuclear waste disposal affecting the southern county.
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) voted at Sanmin Junior High School (三民國中) in Taipei around 10 a.m., urging citizens to vote actively. He emphasized that voting is a right within mature democracies, reinforcing the importance of civic participation. Other members of the party leadership, including Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) and newly appointed Secretary-General of the DPP, Hsu Kuo-yung (徐國勇), also cast their votes in the morning.
The referendum on restarting the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant is also being held Saturday (Aug. 23), asking voters whether they agree to continue plant operations if competent authorities confirm no safety concerns. The outcome of this vote is likely to determine Taiwan's energy future, with proponents arguing nuclear power provides stable clean energy. Opponents contend it poses too great a risk of nuclear disaster to earthquake-prone Taiwan, highlighting the contentious nature of energy policy on the seismically active island.