Taipei: Premier Cho Jung-tai announced on Friday that he would not countersign legislation passed by the opposition-controlled Legislature involving the relocation of 50 households in a veteran village to a defense ministry housing project. Cho made it clear to reporters that he would not endorse the amendments to the Act for Rebuilding Old Quarters for Military Dependents, introduced by Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Lo Chih-chiang, which had cleared the Legislature on January 17.
According to Focus Taiwan, the amended act removed a provision that limited eligibility for relocation or reconstruction to veteran villages built before the end of 1980, changing the cutoff to those established before the act took effect on February 5, 1996. This legislation provides a legal basis for the 50 households from Tzu-jen 8 Village-a complex in Taipei's Da'an District commissioned in 1989-to relocate to a dormitory in Wenshan District's Wanlung, managed by the Ministry of National Defense (MND).
Cho cited three reasons for his decision. First, he claimed the "case-specific" bill was unconstitutional, as laws must be generally applicable, citing the principle of equality enshrined in Article 7 of the Constitution and the prohibition against case-specific legislation established in Judicial Yuan Interpretation No. 793. Second, Cho argued that the Legislature infringed upon the Executive Yuan's budgetary authority under the Constitution, given that the relocation would increase the financial burden on the Old Military Dependents' Village Reconstruction Fund. The premier further noted that the legislation "disregarded" previous judicial rulings. He referenced the MND's 2012 decision to revoke the eligibility of Tzu-jen 8 Village residents after an investigation by military prosecutors revealed administrative oversight had erroneously listed them as eligible for the Wanlung complex.
Under the Constitution, the premier's countersignature is mandatory for a law's promulgation, even if the president signs it. This marks the second time Cho has refused to countersign a law passed by the Legislature, following his refusal to sign opposition-backed amendments to the local revenue-sharing law last December.
In response, Lo criticized the Executive Yuan for unilaterally refusing to countersign legislation passed by the Legislature, calling it an illegal breach of the Constitution and accusing the administration of being a "power-hungry monster." Lo defended his proposal by citing the high cost of maintaining the idle Wanlung complex facility and the deterioration of Tzu-jen 8 Village. He pointed out that the residents lack property rights and are therefore legally barred from renovating their homes. Lo also argued that relocating the 50 households to the Wanlung complex would allow the government to revitalize the original site, thereby generating significant revenue for the national treasury.