DPP slams KMT, TPP for budget delays and 'special clauses'

Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has strongly criticized the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) for allegedly delaying the review of the annual budget and pushing through controversial legislative amendments. DPP spokesperson Wu Cheng accused the KMT and TPP lawmakers of "sitting and taking taxpayers' money" while failing to conduct substantive legislative work.

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KMT and TPP legislators are sitting and taking taxpayers' money, but doing nothing substantial all day.

Wu Cheng stated that the legislative budget review has been delayed for over 290 days since August of the previous year. He alleged that KMT and TPP conveners have intentionally stalled proceedings, with budgets for 19 agencies across six committees still pending. He also pointed to a proposal by KMT legislator Weng Hsiao-ling to completely cut the Ministry of Culture's media promotion budget and 60% of the Bureau of Audiovisual Industry's budget, which he claimed would silence Taiwan's international voice.

The DPP further condemned the opposition parties for passing controversial amendments, including the "Yan Kuan-heng Clause" and the "Kao Hung-an Clause," which they claim create loopholes for specific individuals. Wu Cheng argued that these actions, along with the repeated extension of legislative sessions, obstruct national development and negatively impact the economy and people's livelihoods.

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They are pushing controversial laws by creating loopholes for specific individuals, obstructing national development and impacting the economy and people's livelihoods.

Additionally, the DPP criticized the KMT and TPP for obstructing personnel appointments, including candidates for grand justices, the National Communications Commission, the prosecutor general, the Examination Yuan, the Central Election Commission, and public television board members. Wu Cheng asserted that these tactics, pushing self-serving amendments, delaying the budget, and blocking appointments, are crude methods designed to hinder government operations and national progress, ultimately harming the public.

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The KMT and TPP are using three crude methods: amending laws for personal gain, delaying the national budget, and blocking appointments, to hinder government operations and national development, impacting the economy and people's livelihoods.