TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The KMT legislative caucus may allow the government’s 2026 budget proposal to enter committee review as early as April 10, following internal discussions over its political and policy implications.
The Cabinet has refused to incorporate certain provisions passed by the legislature — including increased pensions for police and firefighters — into the budget, citing concerns that some measures may be unconstitutional. In response, opposition lawmakers have blocked the proposal from advancing to committee review.
During a caucus meeting on Wednesday, several KMT lawmakers reportedly urged the party to allow the budget to proceed, per UDN. They warned that continued obstruction could negatively affect the party’s prospects in the 2026 local elections.
Some lawmakers argued that since the ruling DPP is, in their view, disregarding law-based governance, the opposition should maintain its oversight leverage, per ETtoday. Others added that blocking the budget review is not an effective response to the Cabinet’s refusal to implement or countersign legislation passed by the legislature.
The proposal gained support within the caucus, with a final decision expected at the next plenary session. A source familiar with the meeting said one KMT lawmaker supported allowing the budget to proceed, but wanted the government to allocate funding for firefighter pensions and other legislated measures.
DPP lawmakers criticized the KMT position, with Legislator Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤) suggesting the move is aimed at improving the party’s electoral prospects rather than addressing public needs, per Liberty Times. DPP Legislator Chen Pei-yu (陳培瑜) echoed that view, describing the shift as a response to public pressure.
President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) also addressed delays to the 2026 budget during a DPP meeting on Wednesday, urging all parties to complete the review as soon as possible, per RTI. He said Taiwan faces complex challenges, including a shifting geopolitical landscape, that require the comprehensive measures outlined in the government’s budget.
Lai also called the legislature’s failure to begin reviewing the proposal, seven months after its submission, unprecedented.
TPP Legislative Caucus Convener Chen Ching-lung (陳清龍) pushed back, arguing that the Cabinet’s refusal to execute and countersign passed legislation is the truly unprecedented issue, per China Times.
Chen added that although Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) has warned that delays to the 2026 budget could stall programs such as the Tpass transit subsidy, the legislature has already authorized funding for such initiatives. He said Cho has declined to use those funds despite approval from the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics.
