Taiwan's Budget Passed After 351-Day Delay; Critics Slam 'Retaliatory Review' and Power Grabs

Taiwan's central government budget has finally been passed after a lengthy 351-day delay, a development the opposition parties have framed as a "great gesture of goodwill." However, this passage has drawn sharp criticism from civil society groups and experts who decry the process as "retaliatory review" and an abuse of power.

Chang Hung-lin, executive director of the Government Watch Alliance, condemned the ruling parties' actions. He argued that their approach, which he termed "political and retaliatory budget slashing," goes beyond normal oversight. Instead of ensuring the executive branch performs well, the current method aims to paralyze government functions. Chang highlighted that some cuts were "exaggerated," including decisions that potentially violated the constitution, such as freezing the premier's salary. He warned that the Legislative Yuan, by weakening the executive, examination, and control yuan, and the presidential office, is creating a "constitutional monster" that undermines democracy.

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The current approach aims to paralyze government functions, rather than ensuring the executive branch performs well.

Lai Chung-chiang, convener of the Taiwan Economic Democracy Union think tank, echoed these sentiments. He accused the blue and white parties of "abusing their power to seize authority from the executive branch," leading to the paralysis of government agencies, budgets, and policy implementation. Lai pointed to the National Communications Commission and the Control Yuan as already being paralyzed, with the Constitutional Court also facing potential paralysis. He stated that the budget review process, which should have been completed by the end of 2025 for the 2026 budget, was delayed by over eight months, making government administration difficult.

Concerns were also raised about the remaining budget items. Chang noted that while the central government budget was passed, the budgets for state-owned enterprises, totaling over NT$5 trillion, remain unexamined. He criticized the ruling parties for claiming credit for passing the budget when their work was only half-done, calling it a deception of the public. The prolonged delay and the upcoming legislative elections are expected to further complicate the review of next year's budget, potentially leading to a distorted and incomplete process.

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The blue and white parties are abusing their power to seize authority from the executive branch, leading to the paralysis of government agencies, budgets, and policy implementation.