TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wen (鄭麗文) on Monday (Jan. 5) blamed President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) for stalling the central government budget, citing his "disrespectful attitude" toward the Legislative Yuan (立法院), Taiwan's parliament. Cheng made the accusation after meeting with former Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) to appoint him as the party's senior adviser. The budget impasse has intensified political tensions between the ruling and opposition parties.
Cheng blamed Lai's administration and Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), the head of the Executive Yuan, Taiwan's cabinet, for the budget impasse, urging the president to respect the legislature's decisions. The KMT chair emphasized that the budget's failure to advance stems from Lai's disregard for legislative procedures. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨), Taiwan's ruling party, spokesperson Justin Wu (吳崢) responded, suggesting Cheng may have misunderstood the budget details.
Wu advised Cheng to communicate with KMT legislators to expedite the budget review process and clarified that the 115th annual budget was submitted to the Legislative Yuan last August. The DPP spokesperson attributed the delay to the KMT and Taiwan People's Party (TPP), Taiwan's third-largest political party, which together control the legislature. Cheng also criticized Lai and Cho for ignoring welfare bills benefiting military, public service, and police personnel, specifically accusing them of neglecting military benefits.
Wu countered Cheng's claims, stating the DPP has repeatedly raised salaries for public servants during its tenure and noted the government will allocate the budget accordingly if the constitutional court rules favorably. The DPP spokesperson accused the KMT of spreading misinformation through rhetoric regarding the budget dispute. The political clash highlights deepening divisions between Taiwan's ruling and opposition parties over fiscal policy and legislative authority. ◼
