Taipei, March 15 (CNA) The first stop of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) nationwide budget explainer tour in Taichung Saturday was dominated by attacks on opposition-imposed spending cuts.
Earlier this week, the DPP had said that the eight-date tour would be centered on Cabinet members addressing the budget cuts and freezes, and urged the public “not to confuse” the events with campaigning to recall opposition lawmakers.
The Cabinet has ostensibly accepted the revised budget after failing to have it overturned in a legislative revote.
On Saturday, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) spent the bulk of his 30-minute speech on promoting the Cabinet’s original proposals and criticizing the revised budget passed by Legislature, in which the KMT and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) together hold a majority.
Calling the budget cuts “absurd,” Cho said the proposed budget increases were due to Taiwan’s excellent economic performance in 2024, citing a 4.59 percent economic growth, as well as a per capita national income of US$33,000, and continued investment from overseas tech giants.
He also accused opposition parties of failing to justify the redistribution of NT$370 billion from the central government to local governments, questioning how local governments would use the funds.
Other DPP figures, including Secretary-General Lin Yu-chang (林右昌), DPP legislative caucus secretary-general Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤), and local lawmakers Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) and Ho Hsin-chun (何欣純), also attended the event.
Meanwhile, the event included six booths set up by civil society groups to gather signatures for recall petitions’ second stage.
However, Lin had insisted that the tour was not meant to promote recent recall campaigns targeting KMT lawmakers eligible for recall provisions.
In response, KMT lawmaker Hsu Yu-chen (許宇甄) said her party has scheduled at least 100 policy explanation sessions between March 20 and May 20, with all party staff mobilized. She added that the party does not rule out holding additional sessions if necessary.
A KMT source said the party was forced to take action due to the DPP’s reluctance to negotiate with opposition lawmakers. The upcoming sessions will focus on the KMT’s efforts to improve people’s livelihoods rather than “dance to the DPP’s tune.”
