KMT Caucus Urges Major Progress in Next Week's Budget Negotiations

As disputes over the central government's general budget remain unresolved, the Kuomintang (KMT) caucus has called for significant progress in next week's cross-party negotiations.

During the Legislative Yuan's negotiations on the 2026 central government general budget bill, the KMT caucus has remained the primary opposing force. Legislator Hsu Yu-chen stated today that after two rounds of negotiations, more than 200 proposals remain reserved and lack consensus. This indicates that the KMT caucus still harbors strong reservations and objections regarding the general budget. Hsu emphasized that the KMT caucus will continue negotiating with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus in the hope of substantially narrowing the differences.

The opposition from the KMT caucus is concentrated primarily in a few areas. First is the government's fiscal control policy. The KMT caucus argues that the administration's fiscal policy is overly aggressive, leading to insufficient treasury funds and making it difficult to cope with future economic risks. Hsu stated that the KMT caucus is demanding more concrete fiscal policy plans from the government, including the management and utilization of treasury funds. Second is the government's public infrastructure construction. The KMT caucus believes that these public projects are being rushed without adequate planning and consideration. Hsu stated that the KMT caucus is asking the government to provide more specific infrastructure proposals, including planning and evaluation for investments and construction.

Hsu stressed that the KMT caucus's objections do not constitute a blanket rejection of the government's fiscal policies or public infrastructure proposals. The goal of the KMT caucus is to reach a more concrete and viable plan with the government. Hsu stated that the KMT caucus will continue negotiations with the administration, hoping to make progress in substantially narrowing the disputes next week.

Legislator and Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu also expressed his expectations for next week's negotiations. Han stated he hopes that significant progress can be made next week in narrowing the disputes, moving toward the goal of swiftly concluding negotiations and proceeding to a floor vote in the legislative assembly. Han also emphasized that the Legislative Yuan will maintain its supervisory and oversight powers over the government to ensure that fiscal policies and public infrastructure proposals meet the review and scrutiny standards of the legislature.

Disputes over the general budget remain a major focus of the Legislative Yuan. Hsu stated that the KMT caucus will continue negotiating with the DPP caucus, hoping to make progress in substantially narrowing the differences next week. Han also voiced his expectations for next week's talks, aiming to swiftly complete negotiations and move toward a floor vote. Nevertheless, the controversy surrounding the general budget remains a primary focus in the legislature and will continue to receive close attention and scrutiny.