Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in China's Taiwan region suffered a major political blow as seven opposition Kuomintang (KMT) legislators facing recall votes on Saturday retained their seats in the legislature, marking the defeat of all 32 recall motions pushed by the ruling DPP this year.

The targeted KMT lawmakers held a steady lead after ballot counting began at 4 p.m., and by around 6 p.m., they had all declared victory over the recall attempts, according to local news reports.

Saturday's recall votes marked the second round of the DPP's campaign to claw back ground in the island's legislature, as the party currently holds only 51 out of 113 seats in the legislature and remains in the minority. In the first round of voting, held on July 26, 24 KMT lawmakers and the mayor of Hsinchu all survived recall attempts.

Observers believe the two rounds of failed recall efforts reflect widespread dissatisfaction among the people in Taiwan with what they see as political manipulation and chaotic governance by the DPP authorities led by Lai Ching-te.

(Cover: A view of the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei, Taiwan, China, May 25, 2019. /VCG)

(With input from Xinhua)