When asked how he would react if opposition parties demanded his removal from office, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) responded that he would initiate a Cabinet overthrow and reorganization via constitutional procedure. This was stated during a media interview on Sunday that largely discussed cuts to the central government amounting to more than NT$100 billion (over US$3 billion) by the opposition parties.
Cho has aggressively criticized the opposition parties for their allegedly retaliatory budget cuts which will increase operational difficulties leading to conflict within the Legislature. He also expressed his dismay at opposition lawmakers’ “sneak attack” to the Cabinet by sending in a bill passed by the Legislature just before the start of the Lunar New Year holiday, calling it “naked political calculation.”
KMT Legislator Lee Yen-hsiu (李彥秀) accused the Premier of trying to start a war and that he should resign if he feels so negatively about governmental procedure. She even went as far as to call Cho just a disposable chopstick that the president can use and discard, criticizing him as completely out of control. Lee said that if the government cannot operate on the passed budget, a responsible Premier would step down.
Regarding the Cabinet overthrow and reorganization, DPP Caucus Secretary-General Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) responded on Monday that public opinion will make the final decision, saying that only the citizens of Taiwan can approve the dissolution and reorganization of the government.