TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said Friday he will refuse to countersign amendments to the Act for Rebuilding Old Quarters for Military Dependents, marking only the second such refusal in Taiwan’s history.
Cho previously declined to countersign amendments to the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures, citing the Constitutional Court's paralysis at the time. That decision drew a fierce opposition backlash and calls for impeachment, per CNA.
Explaining his latest decision, Cho said the amendments infringed on the executive branch’s authority over budget proposals, per UDN. He added the changes compromised the principle of impartiality because they were tailored specifically to residents of Tzi Jen Eighth Village.
Cabinet Spokesperson Li Hui-chih (李慧芝) said residents of the village had previously sued to be included under the rebuilding act and lost their case, per NOWNews. She added the amendments would also increase the financial burden on the Rebuilding Old Quarters for Military Dependents fund.
KMT Legislative Caucus Secretary-General Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) criticized the government for bypassing the reconsideration mechanism provided under the Constitution before refusing to countersign, per ETtoday. He accused the administration of undermining democratic principles.
TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) said Cho’s refusal was unconstitutional and warned that the premier could face legal and political accountability in the future, per UDN.
The amendments have been controversial since their introduction. The Taiwan Economic Democracy Union warned that allowing Tzi Jen Eighth Village to qualify could prompt similar demands from other refurbished military dependents’ housing complexes, potentially including social housing, per Liberty Times.
The group noted that when Tzi Jen Eighth Village was originally included in the rebuilding program in 1996, construction had been completed for only seven years, making it ineligible under existing rules. It said court rulings and Control Yuan reports have previously found its inclusion unlawful.
Ministry of National Defense officials warned that at least 512 families in Taipei have similar circumstances, per Liberty Times. They cautioned that extending eligibility could trigger further disputes and place additional strain on the rebuilding fund.
During legislative questioning, Lo asked Vice Defense Minister Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) whether the amendments would affect only Tzi Jen Eighth Village residents, per Newtalk. Hsu said they would, after which Lo argued that the amendments’ stated purpose was to relocate the residents to military housing units that had already been built.
Under Taiwan’s Constitution, the premier is required to countersign bills passed by the Legislative Yuan. If the executive objects, it may request reconsideration. If reconsideration fails, the premier must either accept the bill or resign.
Academia Sinica research fellow Su Yen-tu (蘇彥圖) said some scholars argue that the president may delay promulgation of controversial legislation, per Taiwan Factcheck Center. He said that while the Constitution does not explicitly prohibit such a move, it would nonetheless raise serious constitutional concerns, including the likelihood that the opposition would deem the action unconstitutional.
Su added that some view the move as an attempt to provoke the opposition into launching a vote of no confidence. If passed, a vote of no confidence would trigger a legislative re-election and could potentially allow the DPP to regain a majority.
Soochow University law professor Su Tzu-chiao (蘇子喬) was more direct, saying both the president and the premier are constitutionally obligated to promulgate duly passed legislation and that refusing to do so violates the Constitution.
Su added that while refusing to countersign could theoretically serve as a check on presidential power, the president’s authority to appoint and dismiss the premier means the balance ultimately favors the presidency.
