Government, parties outline priorities as new lawmaking session begins

Taipei, Sept. 1 (CNA) The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and the smaller Taiwan People's Party (TPP) each commented on their respective legislative priorities Monday as the Legislative Yuan began a new session.

The 11th Legislative Yuan's third session, the longest on record, ended Aug. 29, and the fourth session began Sept. 1.

The Cabinet listed nine draft bills as top priorities for the new session, including measures related to the economy, disadvantaged groups, youth, indigenous affairs, health insurance data, childcare services, artificial intelligence, and protections for persons with disabilities.

Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee (李慧芝) said the package includes amendments to the Indigenous Peoples Employment Rights Protection Act, the Personal Data Protection Act, the Protection of Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, and the Business Mergers and Acquisitions Act.

Other priority bills will be reviewed by newly appointed Executive Yuan Deputy Secretary-General Yuan Ruan Zhao-syong (阮昭雄), who will also coordinate with Legislative Yuan caucuses, Lee said.

Meanwhile, the KMT said it intends to pursue reforms to the Local Government Act, military and civil servant pensions, referendum and election law, and subsidies.

KMT caucus Deputy Secretary-General Lin Pei-hsiang (林沛祥) said the bills have "not yet been discussed" or even drawn up, and that "nothing has been finalized."

"Whether it is a referendum-election combination or pension reform, we will engage in thorough communication with the Taiwan People's Party, and after mutual understanding, release either separate or integrated versions," Lin said.

TPP leader Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) said his party will promote amendments to the Referendum Act to combine referendums with elections.

Meanwhile, a DPP party source said that President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), who also chairs the DPP, has invited lawmakers from different factions to his official residence.

According to the source, Lai's goal is to build consensus and ensure the general budget passes smoothly.