Taiwan's ruling party launches campaign to oust opposition lawmakers

ISTANBUL

Taiwan's ruling party launched a nationwide campaign Friday to recall opposition parties, according to state news agency Focus Taiwan.

Taiwan's legislature is currently dominated by opposition parties. The main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party's 26 lawmakers are facing controversial recall votes.

A 16-day nationwide tour on foot and motorcade, which began in the eastern county of Hualien, comes ahead of votes on July 26 and Aug. 23, according to the state news agency Focus Taiwan.

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Secretary-General Lin Yu-chang and political donor Robert Tsao are leading the charge.

Tsao claimed that KMT lawmakers are collaborating with China to "paralyze" Taiwan through the Legislative Yuan, the country’s unicameral legislature.

The KMT's Hualien chapter accused the ruling party of trying to "purge the opposition," in a statement.

The island's regional leader William Lai Ching-te, who is from the DPP, has also been accused of attempting to purge the KMT.