The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) faces major setback following its defeat in recent recall elections. Lin Yu-chang, the party’s secretary-general, resigned shortly after the results, accepting responsibility for the poor outcome. He submitted his resignation directly to President Lai Ching-te. Lin urged supporters to stay committed to protecting Taiwan despite the setback.
The recall vote was widely seen as an opportunity for the ruling party to regain its legislative majority. However, the results showed significant losses, highlighting deeper structural and strategic problems within the party. Critics say the DPP faces major setback that signals urgent need for internal reform.
Wu Szu-yao, the DPP legislative caucus secretary-general, acknowledged the calls for caucus convener Ker Chien-ming to step down. Wu also said the party plans to boost support for recall groups ahead of the next round. She emphasized the importance of stronger coordination in future efforts.
Legislator Puma Shen admitted the party’s coordination with local recall groups fell short. Shen stressed that any review should focus on party leadership rather than the citizens who voted. This statement reflects internal frustrations over campaign mismanagement.
Former DPP lawmaker Lin Cho-shui sharply criticized Ker Chien-ming’s strategy. Targeting all eligible opposition lawmakers, including Taiwan People’s Party Hsinchu Mayor Kao Hung-an, proved to be a serious mistake. Lin pointed out that several targeted politicians actually received more votes than before, signaling a stronger TPP-KMT alliance. Lin questioned why the party adopted such a controversial strategy, especially since Ker represented only a minority viewpoint within the DPP. He called on the party to carefully reflect on how the flawed plan went ahead.
Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation Chair You Ying-lung blamed both the recall groups and the DPP for fighting on unfavorable ground. He noted they failed to understand the political realities and underestimated opposition strength.
An insider from the DPP told Liberty Times the loss resulted from weak policy messaging, flawed campaign tactics, and vague rhetoric on cross-strait relations. The insider said the party underestimated the KMT’s tax rebate appeal, which attracted even some recall supporters.
The insider also highlighted the difficulty of targeting KMT lawmakers in their traditional strongholds. The decision to target all eligible lawmakers made the campaign overly ambitious. Furthermore, the DPP did not properly assess if grassroots groups could sustain the effort or whether the party should have been more involved. Recent party messaging blurred important distinctions between the Chinese government, the Chinese Communist Party, and the Chinese people.
Under former President Tsai Ing-wen, the DPP avoided such confusion to keep moderate voters engaged. Political commentator Huang Wei-han noted that while anti-CCP sentiment remains strong in Taiwan, the DPP failed to channel it effectively. He warned that if the TPP-KMT alliance holds, the ruling party may face continued political constraints.
Following the election, experts suggest the DPP faces major setback that requires broader political dialogue to pass legislation. The opposition coalition now appears better positioned to check the government’s power, requiring more negotiation and compromise in Taipei. In conclusion, the DPP faces major setback that will likely prompt significant changes in strategy and leadership. The party must rebuild unity and rethink its approach if it hopes to regain voter confidence and legislative control.
