Taiwan's Executive Yuan Seeks to Unlock Billions in Frozen Funds

Premier Cho Jung-tai Navigates Budget Impasse in Legislative Yuan

The Executive Yuan in Taiwan, led by Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), is taking action to unfreeze a substantial portion of its budget. The government will be requesting the Legislative Yuan to release NT$138.1 billion (US$4.25 billion) allocated for 1,584 items that have been put on hold.

Premier Cho stated that all ministries have been instructed to submit their requests to the Legislative Yuan in Taipei to expedite the release of these funds, aiming to ensure normal government operations. He outlined three categories of budget freezes: the first, comprising 1,162 items totaling NT$15.4 billion, allows for immediate fund release upon proposal submission. The second, including 373 items totaling NT$36.6 billion, requires a special report and legislative review. The third, encompassing 49 items at NT$86.1 billion, has specific and varying requirements for fund release, including potentially illegal or unconstitutional hurdles.

During a plenary session, Premier Cho announced that the Executive Yuan will seek constitutional interpretations regarding the general budget and the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures (財政收支劃分法), citing the legislature's rejection of the Cabinet's reconsideration requests. He emphasized the government's disagreement with the current budget review procedures.

Addressing the 3 percent pay hike for civil servants, military personnel, and public-school teachers, Premier Cho confirmed its implementation starting next month, despite previous delays attributed to budget disputes. This pay raise was initially approved by the Executive Yuan in July of the previous year.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus criticized the Executive Yuan, claiming a lack of communication regarding the general budget and accusing the government of spreading rumors and playing the victim. The KMT asserted that the Executive Yuan and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) bear the primary responsibility for any implementation obstacles, alleging that the DPP is using the national budget to manipulate public opinion.