Presidency Refutes Media's Justification of Budget Delay as Electoral Tactic

Taipei, June 15 (Central News Agency reporter Yeh Su-ping) — In response to an editorial by United Daily News stating that the president's repeated calls to 'not give up' have turned the national budget into an electoral battleground, the Presidential Office issued a rebuttal today. The 2026 central government budget has been pending in the legislature for over 290 days without completion of review — the most severe delay in the past two decades. Significant cuts have been made to budgets for defense, culture, and foreign affairs, and the editorial's dismissal of national security and development challenges is deeply concerning.

Presidential spokesperson Kuo Ya-hui stated that while budget review is a constitutional responsibility of the legislature, the near-indefinite delay has created serious uncertainty for major national policies, infrastructure projects, and national defense strengthening. The president, entrusted with leading the nation, safeguarding citizens, and upholding constitutional democracy, has a duty to issue solemn appeals.

Kuo criticized the United Daily News for misrepresenting the president's commitment to national governance, defense self-reliance, and social resilience as mere electoral tactics. Ignoring the nation's current challenges and treating a 300-day budget delay as normal is itself a form of political maneuvering, she said, expressing regret.

The 2026 central government budget was submitted to the Legislative Yuan on August 29 of last year and remains unapproved after more than 290 days. While past budgets have occasionally missed the legal deadline for final passage, the duration and extent of delay in this year’s budget are unprecedented in the past 20 years.

More alarmingly, major budget cuts have affected defense, culture, and foreign affairs agencies. Critical programs including defense self-reliance, drones, and flood control and disaster prevention have been disrupted. Given the highly uncertain international political and economic landscape — with intertwined geopolitical risks, supply chain disruptions, extreme climate events, and security threats — these budgets are vital to national security, social stability, and public safety. They should not be held hostage due to partisan differences.

Kuo emphasized that the president's repeated declaration of 'not giving up' reflects an unwavering commitment: not giving up on national security, defense autonomy, or public welfare. The Presidential Office urges that while political parties may compete, the nation must not stall. While political debate is legitimate, people’s lives, property, and national security must not be used as bargaining chips. The Legislative Yuan must return to rational deliberation, accelerate the budget review process, and allow the government to govern lawfully and restore normal national operations. (Editor: Su Chih-tsung) 1150615

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