TAIPEI (TVBS News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) convened a national affairs tea gathering Monday (Dec. 15) to address Taiwan's 2026 budget, revenue reforms, and pension changes. The meeting brought together leaders from the Executive Yuan (行政院), Taiwan's cabinet, and the Examination Yuan (考試院), the government body overseeing civil service examinations and personnel matters. Lai emphasized the need for constitutional compliance amid ongoing legislative disputes.
Lai stressed constitutional adherence in advancing legislative agendas, citing the constitutional court's 2024 ruling against the Law Governing the Legislative Yuan's Power (立法院職權行使法). That ruling triggered opposition efforts to freeze the constitutional court through the revised Constitutional Court Procedure Act (憲法訴訟法). The president urged lawmakers to keep discussions on revenue allocation and pension amendments constitutionally grounded, while acknowledging differing opinions between Taiwan's cabinet and the Examination Yuan.
Lai originally planned to invoke Article 44 of the Constitution for a formal coordination meeting but switched to an informal tea gathering on Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu's (韓國瑜) (HAHN gwoh-YOO) advice. Han, who leads Taiwan's parliament, did not attend, yet the meeting proceeded smoothly. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), Vice Premier Cheng Li-chun (鄭麗君), Examination Yuan President Chou Hung-hsien (周弘憲), and Vice President Hsu Shu-hsiang (許舒翔) participated, with Lai emphasizing inter-institutional communication.
Lai called on the Examination Yuan to safeguard civil servants' rights and ensure the sustainability of military and public service retirement systems. He underscored pension reform as the Examination Yuan's core responsibility amid Taiwan's aging population and fiscal pressures. The tea gathering signals the administration's effort to build cross-institutional consensus on contentious budget and reform issues ahead of the 2026 fiscal year. ◼