Taiwan is paralyzed by political gridlock. A mass recall of ‘pro-China’ lawmakers could break that

By Wayne Chang, CNN

Taipei, Taiwan (CNN) — Giant yellow trucks decked with bears sipping boba tea and broadcasting lawmaker speeches, emotional rallies featuring rock bands and rival political camps jostling for support outside metro stations – Taiwan is in the midst of what feels like a full-swing election.

But this passionate political theatre is not to elect lawmakers. Instead it is an attempt to unseat them, using an unusual quirk of Taiwan’s democratic system – a recall vote.

This Saturday, Taiwan goes to the ballot box to decide whether 24 lawmakers from the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) – around 20 percent of Taiwan’s legislature – can keep their jobs. Seven more seats are to be voted on next month.

The outcome could reshape Taiwan’s political landscape, allowing the ruling D