Taipei: The months-long recall campaign aimed at unseating most lawmakers from the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) ended in a rout for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on Saturday, prompting its leader and President Lai Ching-te to promise a Cabinet reshuffle.

According to Focus Taiwan, Lai also struck a conciliatory tone during a news conference held shortly after seven recall votes and a national pro-nuclear referendum, pledging more dialogue with the opposition and signaling openness to adjusting energy policy. He emphasized the importance of the "voices" of those who voted against the recalls and expressed hope for dialogue between the ruling and opposition parties rather than partisan antagonism.

While Lai did not elaborate on strategies to foster dialogue with the opposition, he mentioned that his administration would "face the challenge with sincerity." He also noted that the Cabinet would be reshuffled to ensure the government is "more effective at solving problems and in tune with public opinion," while retaining Premier Cho Jung-tai.

Speaking during a CNA special live show, Chen Shih-min, a political science professor at National Taiwan University, remarked that the reshuffle must demonstrate to the public that the government is injecting "renewed energy." Meanwhile, KMT Chairman Eric Chu stated that any reshuffle should "prioritize the interests of all citizens" rather than consolidating Lai's power or protecting the DPP's interests.

All seven KMT lawmakers, including Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang, survived Saturday's recall votes by comfortable margins, according to Central Election Commission (CEC) data. The outcomes marked a setback for the DPP-backed recall efforts aimed at overturning the opposition's majority in the Legislature. The 113-seat Legislature remains unchanged, with the KMT holding 52 seats plus two aligned independents, the DPP with 51, and the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) holding eight.

Saturday's referendum on energy policy saw more than 4.3 million voters supporting the proposal to restart the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant, with only 1.5 million opposed. Despite majority support, the referendum did not pass due to insufficient voter turnout, according to CEC data. Soochow University political science professor Su Tzu-chiao attributed the low turnout to "voter fatigue" and the contentious nature of the referendum question.

Lai addressed public expectations for a diversified energy mix in Taiwan and expressed openness to using "advanced" nuclear technology. He stated that any decision on restarting decommissioned nuclear power plants would follow new law revisions, and he instructed the Nuclear Safety Commission to establish safety review guidelines.

KMT Chair Eric Chu called for a pragmatic correction of energy policies, emphasizing the importance of stable power supply for national competitiveness. Nuclear power has been a divisive issue in Taiwan's politics, with previous referendums yielding mixed results.

The DPP government, under former President Tsai Ing-wen, adopted a policy of phasing out nuclear power by 2025, a stance that has faced criticism from the opposition and the business sector concerned about energy supply stability amid increasing demand.