President, premier urge lawmakers to pass budgetWAGE WRANGLING: Two opposition lawmakers said the legislature would not start the budget review until the Cabinet changes the budget for military and police payBy Yang Mien-chieh and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writerPresident William Lai (賴清德) and Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) yesterday urged opposition lawmakers to promptly review and pass the general budget for the 2026 fiscal year, warning that delays could disrupt the implementation of key programs and policies. The central government’s NT$3.35 trillion budget for next year includes more than NT$300 billion for local government subsidies, he said. “Swift legislative review is essential so that ministries can coordinate effectively with local governments,” he said. Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei TimesLai also urged the Legislative Yuan to pass the central government budget quickly to ensure the smooth execution of planned initiatives. KMT Legislator Hsieh Lung-chieh (謝龍介) said the Legislative Yuan could start a budget review immediately, provided the Executive Yuan prepares the budget for military and police pay in accordance with the law.

Source: Taipei Times December 28, 2025 17:12 UTC