The premier is once again moving to block a bill approved by the opposition-controlled legislature. The Cabinet says changes to the government pension act would cost taxpayers more. The premier plans to allow the bill to go through, then ask for a constitutional interpretation to potentially block the bill from taking effect.
00:00Premier Zhou Wangtai is once again moving to block a bill that has already been passed by the legislature.
00:06This time, it's about changes to pensions for civil servants and teachers.
00:10Supporters of the bill say it'll put a stop to gradual cuts to benefits for retired civil servants.
00:16But the cabinet says the amendments would cost taxpayers more.
00:20Now the cabinet says the premier will approve the pension bill,
00:23but will first ask the courts to rule on whether it's constitutional.
00:30After that, after the president's comments, the magistrate will take the duty and duty.
00:34We will be able to approve it, and we will be able to send the judge to explain the court's process to complete the final decision, and to protect the court's rights.
00:45This is different from how the cabinet blocked a different bill earlier this month.
00:49For that one, the premier simply refused to sign it, keeping it from taking effect.
00:53This time, the cabinet's hoping the constitutional court will block the bill for it.
00:57The court recently revived itself after it ruled amendments to how it functions unconstitutional,
01:04freeing it up to issue decisions after nearly a year.
01:07But the court's processes are still very much uncertain.
01:10Opposition parties are trying to sue the justices that made that decision,
01:14and they're also trying to impeach the president and the premier.
01:18So the cabinet's plan to fall back on the constitutional court for a final ruling may still run into issues.
01:24Joseph Wu and Tiffany Wong in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.
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