Behind the Budget Delay: Legislative Disputes and Stalled Delivery to the Executive Yuan

The Legislative Yuan has completed the third reading procedure for the central government's general budget for the 115th fiscal year, but has yet to officially transmit the final manuscript to the Executive Yuan. According to a report by the Central News Agency, Kuomintang (KMT) caucus secretary-general Hsu Yu-chen explained today that the delay is related to a consensus previously reached by Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu during cross-caucus consultations to "allow legislative staff sufficient time for compilation and proofreading." During the consultations, Han pointed out that the budget bill involves thousands of line items and tens of billions of NT dollars in funding, and rushing it could lead to errors or omissions, thereby affecting government implementation and fiscal transparency. Therefore, both sides agreed to complete the proofreading of the relevant bills before the opening of the next session on September 29, and to formally transmit them to the Executive Yuan for review only after all proofreading is finalized.

This move has drawn mixed evaluations between the two parties. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus expressed acceptance, believing that providing lawmakers and budget review personnel with ample working time helps enhance the accuracy and completeness of the budget. Conversely, some voices within the DPP criticized the excessive processing time, expressing concern that it would delay government financial operations. They noted that delays in submitting the budget could lead to funding gaps for relevant departments when launching new-year programs, particularly regarding annual fiscal balance and appropriations for various public constructions. This tug-of-war over time has drawn public attention to the efficiency and accountability of the Legislative Yuan within the budgeting process.

From an institutional perspective, the review of the general budget is inherently one of the most vital responsibilities of the Legislative Yuan. According to the Organic Act of the Legislative Yuan and the Budget Act, budget bills must undergo committee review and third reading in the full chamber before finally being transmitted to the Executive Yuan for approval. Failure to promptly transmit the budget after the third reading can impact the Executive Yuan's financial planning and may even trigger the implementation of provisional budgets or supplementary measures by the Executive Yuan. Similar delays have occurred in past sessions of the Legislative Yuan due to out-of-sync legislative procedures or partisan negotiations, highlighting the constant tension between political coordination and administrative efficiency in budget reviews.

In this budget controversy, the role of Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu has been particularly crucial. Having served as president since 2022, he has been committed to promoting the concepts of "legislative transparency" and "procedural justice," asserting that all budget line items must undergo rigorous proofreading to ensure the rational allocation of public resources. The KMT has relied on this stance to demand that the DPP allow sufficient time before the budget is transmitted, thereby avoiding controversies arising from incomplete procedures. Meanwhile, the DPP responded by citing "excessively long processing times," reflecting the ruling party's dilemma between maintaining administrative efficiency and cooperating with legislative procedures.

The outcome of this round of consultations will directly impact the government's goal of achieving a fiscal balance before the end of September. If the budget is transmitted as scheduled before September 29, the Executive Yuan can complete its review in early October and submit it for presidential approval, ensuring that the new fiscal year's policies proceed without obstruction. Conversely, further delays could force the Executive Yuan to implement a provisional budget, increasing fiscal uncertainty and triggering a chain reaction across fields such as public works, education, and healthcare. For voters, the timely review of the budget is tied to the use of tax revenues, social welfare, and the implementation of infrastructure, serving as an important indicator for measuring the cooperative effectiveness of the Legislative Yuan and the Executive Yuan.

In summary, the failure of the Legislative Yuan to immediately transmit the 115th fiscal year's general budget after completing its third reading stems from negotiations and compromises between Han Kuo-yu and the political parties regarding "working time" and "efficiency." Whether proofreading can be completed and the budget formally transmitted before the opening of the next session on September 29 in the coming days will test whether the Legislative Yuan can balance rigor with timeliness in the budgetary process, and will also bear upon the Executive Yuan's fiscal operations and the vital interests of citizens nationwide.