Taiwanese legislator's 'green-brained' insult sparks public anger over budget delay

A remark by Kuomintang legislator Yeh Yuan-chih has ignited public fury in Taiwan after he responded to a netizen's question about the budget with the insult, "If one is green, the brain is damaged." The incident occurred on social media when a user questioned the legislative body's delay in passing the current year's budget.

The netizen directly challenged Yeh, asking, "You really want to be a legislator, don't you? The easiest thing is to pass this year's budget, okay? When will you pass the 2026 budget? Tell me! The 2027 budget is coming again, when will you pass the budget?"

“

If one is green, the brain is damaged.

Yeh's inflammatory reply, "If one is green, the brain is damaged," was widely interpreted as a derogatory reference to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), often associated with the color green. This response quickly drew sharp criticism from other netizens, who flooded the comments section with outrage.

Online reactions included accusations of "public insult," questioning Yeh's "low standards," and comparing his behavior unfavorably to that of his colleagues. Many expressed disbelief that an elected official would resort to such language against citizens, with some suggesting it reflected a sense of superiority and a lack of respect for the electorate. The incident has become a focal point for criticism regarding the conduct and discourse of some legislators.

“

You really want to be a legislator, don't you? The easiest thing is to pass this year's budget, okay? When will you pass the 2026 budget? Tell me! The 2027 budget is coming again, when will you pass the budget?