Split Taiwan parliament delays 2007 budget

Taipei, Jan 29: A divided Taiwan parliament today decided against holding a special meeting to pass the island's 2007 budget, delaying it until early March and forcing government departments to hold off any capital expenditures.

The postponement also effectively delays a contentious bill that could authorise purchases of new US military planes and submarines to counter a perceived threat from China.

Because of disagreements about how to prioritise legislation left over from a regular session that ended January 19, law makers met to consider holding a special budget hearing this week.

But after an 80-minute closed-door discussion, they agreed to set it aside until March 2.

Ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators want to pass the budget, while the main opposition Nationalist Party wants the DPP first to approve a law that would give its members more seats on a national election supervisory body.

''We think people's interests should be put in the top spot,'' said Mark Ho, a legislator with the pro-DPP Taiwan Solidarity Union party.

Ho and a handful of other legislators shouted their views on the parliament floor today. Earlier this month, a protest turned into a full-scale brawl that cut off parliamentary discussion and stunned the public.

Capital expenditures under the government's proposed 1.67 trillion Taiwan dollar budget, which includes a 28.1 per cent increase in defence spending, will be put on hold.

However, government departments can continue normal operations, including payroll.

REUTERS