Lai accuses Ko of slashing cultural budget, intensifies Kaohsiung mayoral race

As the Kaohsiung mayoral race heats up, potential candidates from both the pan‑green and pan‑blue camps have begun to spar over municipal issues, with the review and reduction of the cultural budget emerging as the latest flashpoint. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator and mayoral hopeful Lai Rui‑long publicly accused Kuomintang (KMT) think‑tank chief and fellow mayoral contender Ke Zhi‑en of orchestrating a large‑scale cut and freeze of Ministry of Culture allocations during the Legislative Yuan’s examination of the central government’s general budget, saying the measures total more than NT$1.3 billion. Lai argued that such a move would severely undermine the development of Taiwan’s cultural industries and negatively affect local arts and cultural initiatives.

Ke responded immediately, emphasizing that the proportion of cuts she advocated amounts to only about 3.3 percent of the overall budget – the lowest level in the past three years – and that it does not cause any material damage to cultural development. The two candidates exchanged barbs from opposite sides of the chamber, illustrating a stark political divide.

The backdrop to this budget showdown is the Legislative Yuan’s rigorous scrutiny of the central government’s annual budget. During each budget session, legislators from all parties regularly propose cuts or freezes on items such as agency programs, promotional activities, contracted services and pooled funding, fulfilling their oversight responsibilities. Lai’s campaign has zeroed in on the cultural budget because cultural policy has become highly sensitive in Kaohsiung, which has been actively rebranding itself as a hub for the arts. Since the opening of landmark venues such as the Kaohsiung Pop Music Center, the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts and the Pier‑2 Art District, the city government and central ministries have poured substantial resources into the local film and music sectors, performing arts, and independent bookstores. By accusing his opponent of slashing the budget, Lai seeks to consolidate support among staunch green voters and the cultural community, positioning himself as a defender of Kaohsiung’s artistic development.

Ke, however, framed her defense in terms of fiscal discipline and parliamentary oversight. She argued that it is the duty of elected representatives to monitor executive spending, and that freezing or reasonably trimming inappropriate items is a legitimate exercise of that duty. She further clarified that the 3.3 percent reduction she supported is not only relatively low compared with historical legislative cuts but also the smallest figure recorded in the last three years. Ke’s camp dismissed Lai’s criticism as partisan rhetoric and electioneering, claiming that the opponent is attempting to portray routine budget oversight as sabotage of local cultural growth. According to Ke, such accusations mischaracterize the Legislative Yuan’s operations and distract from rational policy debate.

From a broader political perspective, the budget dispute is more than a debate over central‑government allocations; it is an early‑stage contest for issue dominance between two likely contenders for Kaohsiung’s mayoralty. As a DPP incumbent legislator with deep grassroots ties, Lai is well‑versed in the interplay between local projects and national policy. By highlighting Ke’s voting record on budget matters, he can elevate the contest to a national stage and scrutinize his rival’s broader political stance. Conversely, Ke, the KMT’s most prominent figure in Kaohsiung with an academic background and nationwide name recognition, has leaned on data‑driven arguments and the normalcy of legislative oversight to counter accusations that she opposes local development, while showcasing her expertise in fiscal review and rational questioning.

Looking ahead, as the Kaohsiung mayoral campaign progresses, further clashes between central policy and local needs are expected. The debate over whether to cut the cultural budget, while ostensibly a matter of numbers and percentages, actually reflects divergent party priorities for the allocation of national resources and differing visions for the city’s cultural trajectory. The ruling‑party camp stresses the importance of sustained, sizable investment, arguing that culture requires stable financial support to flourish. The opposition emphasizes strict stewardship of taxpayers’ money, using budget cuts and freezes to press the executive branch for greater efficiency. Although the quarrel over the NT$1.3 billion cultural allocation has not yet reached the peak of the campaign, it has already added a note of tension to the race and gives voters a chance to assess the two potential candidates’ ability to articulate positions on major public issues and to navigate political attacks.

(Source: Central News Agency)