Taipei: Premier Cho Jung-tai has decided not to countersign three legal amendments passed earlier this year by the opposition-led Legislature, citing perceived constitutional issues.
According to Focus Taiwan, the amendments were supported by the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) in January. The proposed changes involve the Act Governing the Settlement of Ill-gotten Properties by Political Parties and Their Affiliate Organizations, the Satellite Broadcasting Act, and the Organic Law of the Legislative Yuan. Premier Cho's refusal to countersign these laws means they will not be enacted based on the Cabinet's interpretation.
The amendment to the Act Governing the Settlement of Ill-gotten Properties aims to reverse the 2022 classification of the China Youth Corps as a KMT-affiliate, which conflicts with a 2023 constitutional interpretation. Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee highlighted these concerns in a statement.
The Satellite Broadcasting Act amendment allows channels to maintain their original slots during administrative lawsuits and mandates remedies if a channel is reassigned. Critics have labeled this the "CTi TV clause," arguing it could facilitate CTi News' return after its license was revoked in 2020 due to regulatory breaches. The Want Want Group-owned CTi TV has since taken legal action against the National Communications Commission (NCC), with proceedings still ongoing.
Furthermore, the amendment to the Organic Law of the Legislative Yuan redefines public funds initially designated for lawmakers' aides as "subsidies," increasing lawmakers' remuneration fivefold. This change, Lee warns, could create opportunities for misuse and impose additional financial strains on the central government without identifying compensatory funding sources.
The KMT has criticized Cho's decision, accusing him of undermining the separation of powers and overstepping judicial boundaries regarding constitutional interpretation. The TPP caucus also targeted President Lai Ching-te, holding him accountable for the administration's perceived legal disrespect.
This is not the first instance of Premier Cho refusing to countersign Legislature-approved bills over constitutional concerns. In December, Cho refused to sign an amendment increasing local government tax revenue shares, marking a historic first for the Republic of China (Taiwan). Recently, he declined to sign an amendment concerning the relocation of households in a Taipei veteran village.
Despite Cho and President Lai's occasional approval of legislation, the government has sometimes failed to implement them, as seen with the unallocated funds for pension and salary increases for security personnel in the central government's 2026 budget proposal.