KMT vows 100 'policy briefings' to counter 8 DPP 'policy briefings'

Taipei, March 16 (CNA) Taiwan's biggest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), vowed on Sunday to hold 100 "policy briefings" nationwide from March 20 to May 20, a day after the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) held the first of its eight similar events.

The 100 public events are aimed at "winning the support of the people for the KMT," KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) told the media before an unrelated event in Yunlin County.

"Now the whole party is united in opposing the DPP's malicious recall vote activities," Chu said, in reference to campaigns to recall district-elected politicians from office in accordance with the Public Officials Election and Recall Act.

Chu suggested that the KMT prioritizes "the people's livelihood," while the DPP focuses on "politics."

The KMT has said that it will focus on issues concerning "the people's livelihood" in the Legislature's current session, including "returning money to the people."

Last month, the KMT's legislative caucus announced its plan to urge the government to share surplus tax revenues, which it said could result in people receiving a one-time payment of NT$10,000 (US$305).

The KMT also said that at its planned "policy briefings," it will explain its reasons for promoting budget cuts and revisions to the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures, to "let the people know the truth."

The KMT's statements came after the DPP held its first "policy briefing" in Taichung on Saturday, with Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) and other high-ranking officials in attendance.

The event was ostensibly aimed at explaining policy initiatives, but much time was spent criticizing the revised budget passed by the Legislature, where the KMT and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) together hold a majority.