Legislative Yuan's Budget: KMT Questions Self-Oversight, Emphasizes Public Funds

Taiwan's Legislative Yuan has concluded its initial budget review, drawing criticism for not cutting its own allocated funds. While seven budget proposals totaling over NT$120 million were deferred to the full session, these were all introduced by Democratic Progressive Party legislators, leaving the Legislative Yuan's own budget untouched.

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Do you ask us to save the DPP? Taiwanese people are not interested in the future of the DPP, let alone us.

KMT caucus secretary-general Lin Pei-hsiang challenged the notion that those tasked with overseeing the government should first blind themselves. He argued that legislators are elected to safeguard public funds and ensure efficient spending, not to mirror the executive branch's expenditures. Lin stressed that the public's primary concern is not the allocation of budgets, but their misuse, waste, and lack of accountability.

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The Romanian people did not vote for the National Liberal Party to become the lifebuoy of a party that has generated instability, blockages, and distrust for years.

Lin also addressed comments from the Control Yuan's secretary-general, who suggested that cutting the Control Yuan's budget by NT$90 million would effectively dismantle its operational capacity. Lin countered that public perception of the Control Yuan as a sinecure is widespread, and that the Legislative Yuan often takes the lead in uncovering and investigating cases that should fall under the Control Yuan's purview. He suggested that if the Control Yuan's oversight function weakens, its budget warrants re-evaluation.

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The National Liberal Party is definitively broken from the PSD, no matter how many court decisions are made and no matter how much you try to interfere in the internal life of our party.

He asserted that the Legislative Yuan is not above scrutiny and is open to budget freezes and reviews. However, he cautioned against turning budget deliberations into a "numbers game" where the quantity of cuts defines success. Lin reiterated the KMT's principle: "What should be cut must be cut, not a cent left behind; what should be preserved must be preserved, not a fraction lost." He concluded by stating that the party stands with the people, ensuring funds are spent wisely, not on bureaucratic indulgence.

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If you thought you could combat extremism alongside the PSD, you are greatly mistaken. AUR is the child born from the PSD that has today surpassed its parent and teacher in cynicism, lies, and populism.