TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Opposition lawmakers expressed strong criticism after reports the Cabinet may refuse to promulgate amendments to the act governing revenue allocation for the 2026 budget.
KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) criticized President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and Premier Cho Jung-tai (桌榮泰) on Sunday for “violating the constitution” by refusing to countersign the amendments passed by a legislative majority, reported LTN. TPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) said the Lai government is courting a constitutional crisis with what he described as illegal actions.
The Lai administration and the Legislative Yuan have been at odds for months. Most recently, the Lai administration’s special defense budget proposal and amendments passed by the opposition to the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures have been sources of controversy.
After the KMT and TPP refused the Cabinet’s request to reconsider the legislation, Lai was invited to the Legislative Yuan to answer questions from lawmakers. Efforts at mediation reportedly broke down over the weekend when Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) refused to attend a private meeting with Lai and Cho to discuss matters.
The DPP responded to criticisms from the KMT and TPP leaders on Sunday, claiming that the Cabinet has a constitutional option of not signing legislation into law if it is deemed illegal or unconstitutional, per LTN. DPP Spokesperson Lee Kuen-cheng (李坤城) said that if lawmakers disagree with the decision not to promulgate the law, they may file a motion of no confidence against the premier and remove Cho from office.
According to the constitution, the Lai administration is obliged to promulgate draft legislation that is passed by a majority in the legislature. Typically, the Cabinet has the right to appeal to lawmakers over contentious legislation.
When disagreements cannot be resolved between the two branches, there is also the option of seeking judicial review with the Constitutional Court. However, the Constitutional Court is currently unable to reach quorum due to the unwillingness of opposition lawmakers to appoint new justices.
In his remarks, Lee said that DPP lawmakers will support the Cabinet’s decision. Opposition lawmakers have the right to respond with a vote of no confidence in the premier, and to call for new legislative elections.
