TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The DPP is adjusting its strategy to address the ongoing dispute between the Lai administration and the opposition-controlled Legislative Yuan.

As the legislative alliance of the KMT and TPP continues to advance legislation obstructing the Cabinet and the DPP, the ruling party plans to leverage public opinion to pressure the opposition. The strategy will reportedly emphasize economic livelihood and national security, two major issues of public concern, reported LTN.

President Lai ching-te (賴清德) and the Cabinet have been consistently constrained by opposition lawmakers since taking office. With a majority of seats in the legislature, the TPP and KMT have fast-tracked controversial laws and amendments at odds with the agenda of the administration.

Sources within the DPP told Liberty Times that internal polls show a majority of voters across age groups and party affiliations support the government’s fiscal proposals and stance on national security. The Cabinet’s agenda on both issues have faced obstruction from the Legislative Yuan.

On Dec. 2, the opposition lawmakers voted against fast tracking Lai’s proposed defense budget of NT$1.25 trillion (US$40 billion). On Dec. 5, the legislature rejected a request from the administration to reconsider amendments to the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures, which will undercut the government’s funding schemes for the next fiscal year. 

To overcome the impasse, the DPP plans to emphasize to the public that budget cuts will threaten existing pension schemes, as well as elderly healthcare programs, public transportation subsidies like the T-Pass program, and funds for disaster preparedness and response. The party will also continue to highlight the importance of defense spending to protect national sovereignty.