Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) yesterday presented an administrative address to the legislature amid a brief protest by opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers who withdrew en masse from the chamber.
Cho was scheduled to present an administrative address in the legislature, which returned from a recess yesterday.
In a rare move for administrative addresses by a premier, Cho departed from his written comments while briefing the legislature on new infrastructure projects for fiscal 2025, to criticize the opposition parties, which have a combined majority in the legislature, for voting to cut the central government budget last month.
Photo: CNA
The KMT and the minor opposition Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) last month voted to slash a record-high NT$207.5 billion (US$6.33 billion) from the NT$3.13 trillion general budget proposal submitted by the Cabinet.
Cho said there was an urgent need for funding for new projects, which caused the proposed budget to be higher than the previous year.
“What are the new projects? I have said many times, but since so many people find them hard to remember, I will repeat them again,” he said before naming the initiatives.
“Are any of these projects unimportant or unnecessary? So why should the central government’s budget be lower than it was last year?” he asked.
Cho spent much of his time discussing the relationship between the administrative and legislative branches of the government, and calling for the opposition parties to “put unity before everything else.”
As the economy is growing, the capacity of services must also increase, he said, adding that the government has an obligation to care for its citizens.
Cooperation is what people expect from the government, he said.
Taiwan must continue to play a role on the world stage while resolving its five major issues, Cho said.
The five major issues include population decline, anti-crime efforts, recruitment and labor force increases, energy transition and price stability, he said.
The Executive Yuan, to prepare Taiwan for its next stage, is to expand social services for young people, promote the “innovation economy,” develop sustainable green energy, promote balanced development, protect the culture and rights of minority groups, foster a new image of the country abroad and invest in strengthening its national defense, Cho said.
He also spoke on promoting policies such as promoting childcare support, expanding long-term care options, expanding cancer screenings, improving the National Health Insurance and more, including 10 new “Healthy Taiwan” initiatives.
Before Cho could begin his report, KMT lawmakers surrounded the podium, holding up placards and shouting slogans accusing the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of governing with “lies” and being out of touch with the public.
In response, DPP lawmakers also held up placards calling for the opposition to engage in rational dialogue with the ruling party.
The commotion lasted several minutes until KMT lawmakers withdrew from the legislative chamber.
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