Taiwanese voters on Saturday rejected recall motions aimed at removing 24 opposition Kuomintang legislators and Hsinchu Mayor Kao Hung-an, according to preliminary results released by the Central Election Commission. The outcome preserves the KMT-led bloc’s majority in the 113-seat Legislative Yuan and denies President Lai Ching-te’s Democratic Progressive Party an opportunity to reclaim parliamentary control. The unprecedented campaign sought to unseat up to 31 KMT lawmakers in two stages, with the remaining seven votes slated for 23 August. Under Taiwan’s Public Officials Election and Recall Act, a recall passes only if votes in favour both outnumber those against and equal at least 25 percent of eligible voters in the district; none of Saturday’s constituencies met those twin thresholds. Ruling-party supporters had hoped that removing at least 12 KMT legislators would ease passage of stalled defence budgets and other priorities. Instead, the failed recalls mark a political reprieve for the China-friendly KMT and a setback for the DPP, which has accused its rivals of obstructing key legislation since losing its legislative majority last year. President Lai called on the public to “respect and accept” the result and thanked citizens for exercising their voting rights. Analysts warned that the episode could deepen political polarisation ahead of the second recall round and the 2026 local elections.