Kaohsiung:Kuomintang (KMT) Chairperson Cheng Li-wun on Saturday called on voters to support her party in the upcoming local elections in southern Taiwan. Meanwhile, Taiwan People's Party (TPP) Chairman Huang Kuo-chang urged President Lai Ching-te to enact laws passed by the Legislature.
According to Focus Taiwan, the two opposition leaders voiced their criticisms separately during National Day events. Cheng addressed a flag-raising ceremony in Kaohsiung's Guomao community, where she accused the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of exacerbating cross-strait tensions and undermining Taiwan's democracy. She encouraged voters to back KMT candidates in Kaohsiung, Tainan, and Pingtung County in the local elections scheduled for November 28.
Cheng emphasized the importance of peace across the Taiwan Strait, stating it is crucial for protecting Taiwan's democracy, freedom, and prosperity. She advocated for dialogue to reduce conflict risk and benefit future generations. Additionally, she criticized the DPP's energy policies, calling for a return to nuclear power generation. Cheng also argued for broader economic growth that includes older industries, services, agriculture, and fisheries, rather than focusing solely on the high-tech sector.
KMT candidates from Kaohsiung, Tainan, and Pingtung County, along with former Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng and other KMT officials, attended the event.
In Taipei, Huang spoke before attending the National Day celebrations with eight TPP lawmakers. He criticized the executive branch for refusing to enact laws passed by the Legislature and addressed Lai's call for the Legislature to review and pass the 2027 budget and a supplementary budget for this year. Huang accused Lai of creating the false impression that lawmakers were stalling the budget process and stated that the TPP would support budgets that benefit the public while opposing corruption and waste.
Huang also urged Lai to fulfill his campaign promise to build 130,000 social housing units and to tackle issues like high housing costs, the rising cost of living, and wealth inequality. Lai has so far declined to promulgate several opposition-passed bills, with the Cabinet expressing concerns over financial strain, favoritism, and potential influence on media operations. In a notable instance, Premier Cho Jung-tai refused to countersign a law increasing local government tax revenue shares due to constitutional concerns.
