為達最佳瀏覽效果,建議使用 Chrome、Firefox 或 Microsoft Edge 的瀏覽器。

關閉此視窗 請至Edge官網下載 請至FireFox官網下載 請至Google官網下載
晴時多雲

    限制級
    您即將進入之新聞內容 需滿18歲 方可瀏覽。
    根據「電腦網路內容分級處理辦法」修正條文第六條第三款規定,已於網站首頁或各該限制級網頁,依台灣網站分級推廣基金會規定作標示。 台灣網站分級推廣基金會(TICRF)網站:http://www.ticrf.org.tw

    《TAIPEI TIMES》Legislative Yuan slashes government budget by 6.6 percent

    Democratic Progressive Party legislators protest against the opposition’s budget cuts at the legislative chamber in Taipei yesterday.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times

    Democratic Progressive Party legislators protest against the opposition’s budget cuts at the legislative chamber in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times

    2025/01/22 03:00

    ‘INDISCRIMINATE’:The drastic changes would delay many national projects as well as undermine global confidence in Taiwan’s resolve to defend itself, the premier said

    By Chen Cheng-yu and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, with staff writer

    The budget proposal, which the Cabinet approved in August last year, set government spending at NT$3.1325 trillion (US$95.6 billion), with projected revenues of NT$3.1534 trillion — both record highs — working out to a surplus of NT$20.9 billion.

    On Friday last week, the opposition-led legislature voted to cut NT$93.98 billion from the budget’s general provisions.

    During a 20-hour continuous session from Monday until yesterday morning, they continued to slash the budgets of government agencies, bringing the total budget cuts to about NT$207.5 billion.

    Cuts from general provisions include a 10 percent reduction in water and electricity fees, and 60 percent on special expenditures.

    Special expenses for the Executive Yuan, the Mainland Affairs Council, the Council of Indigenous Peoples, the National Communications Commission, the Control Yuan, and the ministries of the interior, agriculture, digital affairs, justice, civil service and labor were completely eliminated.

    There would also be a 3 percent cut on military equipment and facilities.

    Media policy and promotion expenses would be uniformly cut by 60 percent, unless otherwise specified.

    More controversial proposals include a 70 percent freeze on the Executive Yuan’s operating expenses, a 50 percent cut and 30 percent freeze on the Control Yuan’s operating expenses, a 50 percent freeze on the Ministry of National Defense’s submarine budget and a 50 percent freeze on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ (MOFA) operating expenses.

    While the opposition defended the reductions, saying they were seeking to stop wasteful spending, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) at press conference yesterday accused the opposition parties of “indiscriminately cutting budget items” in an attempt to disrupt the political operations of the Executive Yuan.

    The proposed central government budget includes new items such as NT$79.8 billion for public construction, NT$41.5 billion for national defense expenditure, NT$36.6 billion for a National Health Insurance financial assistance program, NT$6 billion to improve the medical industry, NT$4 billion for a national cancer prevention program, NT$20 billion for public housing, NT$13.6 billion for national pension, NT$12.6 billion for National Science and Technology Council research projects, NT$5.3 billion for local teaching facilities and NT$4.9 billion for childcare services for children aged two to six, Cho said.

    There is also an additional NT$2.2 billion for salary increases for public servants and military personnel that needs to be allocated, he added.

    It is uncertain when the more than NT$260 billion frozen funds would be unlocked, which would delay many national projects and policies that are scheduled to start at the beginning of the year, Cho said.

    Freezing 50 percent of the defense ministry’s submarine budget would undermine international confidence in Taiwan’s resolve to defend itself, he said.

    Freezing 50 percent of MOFA’s operational budget would halt half of its activities at a time when Taiwanese diplomacy must remain strong to combat Chinese pressure, he said.

    Separately, Bureau of Consular Affairs Deputy Director-General Chen Shang-yu (陳尚友) said the legislature’s 10 percent cut of administrative fees across all agencies — including about NT$120 million for the bureau — might affect passport issuance from October.

    The bureau estimates that 2.05 million to 2.09 million new passports would be issued this year, but after the budget cut, the remaining funds would only be enough to issue about 1.85 million passports, so there might be difficulty issuing new ones from October, he said.

    He also reminded the public to check their passport validity date if they plan to travel during the Lunar New Year holiday as consular offices would be closed from Saturday to Feb. 2.

    People who need to renew their passport must apply before tomorrow to receive it on Friday.

    Additional reporting by Chen Yu-fu, Lee I-chia and AFP

    新聞來源:TAIPEI TIMES

    Chinese Nationaliast Party (KMT) lawmakers gesture in the legislative chamber in Taipei yesterday.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times

    Chinese Nationaliast Party (KMT) lawmakers gesture in the legislative chamber in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times

    Premier Cho Jung-tai speaks at a news conference at the Executive Yuan in Taipei yesterday.
Photo: Lin Cheng-kun, Taipei Times

    Premier Cho Jung-tai speaks at a news conference at the Executive Yuan in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Lin Cheng-kun, Taipei Times

    The Legislative Yuan yesterday on third reading passed the central government budget for this year, cutting 6.6 percent from the Executive Yuan’s proposed expenditure — the largest in history.

    The Legislative Yuan yesterday on third reading passed the central government budget for this year, cutting 6.6 percent from the Executive Yuan’s proposed expenditure — the largest in history.

    不用抽 不用搶 現在用APP看新聞 保證天天中獎  點我下載APP  按我看活動辦法

    圖
    焦點今日熱門
    看更多!請加入自由時報粉絲團

    網友回應

    載入中
    此網頁已閒置超過5分鐘,請點擊透明黑底或右下角 X 鈕。