Taiwan premier decries 'suicidal' budget cuts, may ask parliament to rethink

23/1/2025 15:51

Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-tai on Thursday decried what he said were "suicidal" budget cuts passed by the opposition-dominated parliament this week, saying that he may ask lawmakers to review and vote again on the slashed spending that includes defence.



Although Lai Ching-te won the presidential election last year, his Democratic Progressive Party lost its majority in parliament, giving the opposition legislative control that includes spending proposals.



The government said the cuts the opposition passed in parliament on Tuesday total T$207.6 billion, or 6.6% of the proposed total budget, for central government spending this year.



The opposition had also frozen T$160.7 billion, around 5.1% of the proposed total and 10 times more than the past average, according to Taiwan's government.



"In the face of such indiscriminate attacks, we can't make suicidal cuts," Cho told reporters, adding some agencies would need to trim or terminate services because their water and electricity spending were cut.



Cho would not directly say whether he would send the budget back to lawmakers for them to reconsider, saying only that he will seek "administrative remedies" allowed by the constitution.