Pension Overdeduction for 2 Years Not Repaid? 'Four Major Debts of Military, Civil Servants, Police, and Firefighters' Revealed Before Budget Third Reading

After prolonged delays, the central government's budget for fiscal year 115 passed its third reading on the evening of the 14th, with NT$48 billion (1.689%) cut, including the complete removal of special allowances for multiple agencies such as the Executive Yuan and Control Yuan. In response, Lai-hsi Lee, former president of the National Civil Servants Association, cited on Facebook on the 14th—before the budget's passage—a chart titled 'Lai Administration Debt List' compiled by Kuomintang legislator Hsiao-ling Weng. It included issues such as military and police personnel benefits and the failure to reimburse two years of over-deducted retirement funds for civil servants and educators. Lee questioned whether it had become normal for the Premier not to sign or execute legislation, fail to legally compile budgets, and for the President to withhold promulgation of laws passed by the legislature. 'The fact that an idle Premier remains in office while doing nothing is truly concerning,' he said.

When Will the Two-Year Civil Servant Pension Shortfall Be Paid?

Lee, who previously called urgently for reimbursement of the pension shortfall, with 2024 and 2025 over-deductions still unresolved, posted on Facebook on the morning of the 14th under the title 'There's no sun in sun cakes, yet the sun still rises in the east and sets in the west; the Earth keeps turning!' He stated: 'Without Control Yuan members, daily life continues unaffected. Without NCC commissioners, broadcasting and media still operate autonomously, and independent media are thriving. Without Grand Justices, the judiciary hasn't collapsed; in fact, people feel safer without the green-aligned justices. Has the nation fallen because the budget didn't pass? Have government agencies shut down? Is it wrong not to compensate the idle? Is it illegal to reject bloated, unjustified budgets?'

What's on the 'Debt List'? What Did Weng Say on Facebook?

Hsiao-ling Weng, who proposed freezing the Premier's salary, emphasized on Facebook on the 13th that Jung-tai Cho failed to legally budget allowances for military personnel and pension differences for police and firefighters, and refused to sign the 'Taiwan Children and Youth Future Account Act' passed in the third reading. 'The Legislative Yuan has been fooled again,' she said, advocating to 'starve the rogue government.' Weng listed the following 'Debt List':

Livelihood Debts: - Police and firefighter pension arrears: 473 days unpaid - Subsidy for colonels' children: 410 days unpaid - Two-year over-deduction of civil servant and educator pensions: 228 days unpaid - Volunteer military allowance not budgeted: 224 days unpaid

Legislative Debts: - Fiscal Reform Act: 272 days unsigned - Old Military Housing Act: 209 days unsigned -不当 Party Assets Act: 195 days unsigned - Satellite Broadcasting Act: 195 days unsigned - Legislative Yuan Organization Act: 195 days unsigned

Personnel Debts: - Grand Justices: 651 days vacant - Prosecutor General: 98 days vacant

115th Fiscal Year Budget Passes Third Reading—How Much Was Cut?

The Legislative Yuan passed the 115th fiscal year budget in its third reading on the 15th. Revenues were increased by NT$60.2 billion, temporarily adjusted to NT$3.464 trillion. For expenditures, a total of NT$48 billion was cut, temporarily adjusted to NT$2.987 trillion. After final approval, the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics under the Executive Yuan will adjust the figures by category. This includes the Premier Jung-tai Cho's four-month salary from September to December, totaling NT$1.488 million, which passed with 59 votes in favor. After the budget's passage, Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu emphasized that the Premier must never refuse to sign or execute laws legally passed by the legislature, warning that otherwise, 'the image of Taiwan's democratic constitutionalism becomes unimaginable.'