"Legislators" from both Taiwan's blue and green parties have called on the Tsai government to "return taxes to the people" for the taxes it overcollected last year. However, Tsai Ing-wen said that she would not consider universal cash or consumer vouchers, triggering a backlash in public opinion. Even within the Democratic Progressive Party, there were voices questioning that the Tsai government was too far away from public opinion. Some scholars have analyzed that the fact that both blue and green on the island are questioning Tsai Ing-wen’s decision-making means that Tsai Ing-wen’s authority has begun to be challenged.
Taiwan’s tax revenue exceeded NT$450 billion last year, and public opinion called for “returning taxes to the people.” However, Tsai Ing-wen said that she would not consider issuing cash or consumer vouchers, and would divert part of the overtaxed tax revenue to fill the government’s financial gap, triggering criticism.
Kuomintang "legislator" Lin Defu :
Tsai Ing-wen's government wants to use 380 billion to cover losses and debts. Is this truly "repaying taxes to the people"? Or are you trying to make up for your own wrong policies, leaving the whole people to pay for the consequences?
Kuomintang "legislator" Fei Hongtai:
The overtaxed money is not something you can use to make a small treasury, it is not your private money. We demand that "taxes be returned to the people." In fact, we also appealed to the "Legislative Yuan", so the "legislators", especially the "members" of the ruling party, loudly told Tsai Ing-wen that the excessive taxes levied by the people do not belong to you alone.
Even the Tsai administration’s own people cannot stand it. DPP “legislators” complained that the majority of public opinion hopes for universal cash, and the people feel more disappointed than considerate. If the Tsai administration insists on going its own way, it is obviously too far away from public opinion.
Democratic Progressive Party "legislator" Lai Ruilong :
The consumption voucher part also involves related administrative costs, so we suggest that sending cash should be the fastest.
Democratic Progressive Party “Legislator” Guo Guowen:
Most of what people hear in the local area is hoping to find gold.
The Kuomintang "Legislative Yuan" caucus called on the Tsai administration to use excess tax revenue for disadvantaged groups instead of using it as funds for internal propaganda. What the people want is cash, and it should be distributed before the Lunar New Year.
Source: Phoenix TV Huang Jiateng, Ke Zhiqiang Reported in Taipei
Editor: Mumu
