TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's main opposition party proposed three nationally televised debates at the parliament on Friday (Jan. 23) in response to Premier Cho Jung-tai's (卓榮泰) recent call for a debate on the central government general budget bill. The proposal suggests a format in which the Kuomintang's (KMT, 國民黨) top three caucus leaders face off against the Executive Yuan's (行政院, Taiwan's cabinet) top three officials. The Legislative Yuan (立法院), Taiwan's parliament, has sent the proposal for a second reading and cross-party negotiation.
Regarding the KMT's proposal, the Executive Yuan expressed confusion over the opposition's request for televised debates, stating that parliament serves as the primary platform for policy debates. Despite the Executive Yuan's response, the KMT caucus urged Premier Cho to seize this opportunity to address budget controversies and undergo public scrutiny. The opposition encouraged him not to go back on his word. The Legislative Yuan, following cross-party consensus, assigned the KMT caucus to convene the negotiations.
Premier Cho proposed a direct, public debate with parliament on Wednesday regarding the obstruction of the central government's general budget bill, but later revised his statement, saying the Legislative Yuan is the platform for direct dialogue. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨), the ruling party, spokesperson Han Ying (韓瑩) echoed Cho on Thursday, stating that the central government's general budget remains stalled and has yet to be reviewed.
Han noted that Premier Cho has clearly stated his willingness to explain the budget publicly in the legislature and to accept full parliamentary oversight, with the sole goal of scheduling the budget for review as soon as possible. The stalemate over the central government's general budget continues as both sides seek a resolution through parliamentary procedures. ◼ (At time of reporting, US$1 equals approximately NT$31.6)