Legislature Reviews Control Yuan Budget; Opposition Demands Cuts, Case Sent to Negotiation

Central News Agency, Taipei, May 25. The Legislative Yuan's Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee reviewed the 115-year budget for the Control Yuan today. Lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties clashed over whether to cut basic administrative maintenance funds of over NT$61.82 million and debated the potential abolition of the Control Yuan. As no consensus was reached, the budget was reserved for cross-party negotiations. Control Yuan Secretary-General Huang Shih-cho and Deputy Secretary-General Wang Tseng-hua attended the session. The Control Yuan's report stated that the expenditure budget is NT$1.154 billion, with NT$917.93 million allocated for general administration. TPP legislator Chen Chao-tzu proposed cutting NT$91.24 million, arguing that the Control Yuan has lost its function and serves as a place for political patronage. Chen stated that the TPP's position aligns with the DPP's past stance on abolishing the institution. DPP legislator Shen Fa-hui respected the TPP's political stance but argued that the abolition of the Control Yuan should be discussed within the context of constitutional reform. DPP legislator Chuang Jui-hsiung agreed on the need for constitutional reform but urged rational discussion on the budget. Secretary-General Huang warned that cutting the budget would effectively 'abolish the power' of the institution, causing significant harm to the public. KMT legislator Wu Tsung-hsien argued that as long as the Control Yuan exists, it should fulfill its constitutional duties.