Second extra session unlikely: Ker saysKMT NOT KEEN: Ker Chien-ming said that even if a second extraordinary session were held, the KMT would not allow a budget request to bypass a month of negotiationsBy Sean Lin, Huang Pei-chun and Dennis Xie / Staff reporters, with staff writerDemocratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) yesterday hinted that there would not be a second extraordinary session before the start of the regular legislative session late next month. When Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) last month approved a second special budget for COVID-19 prevention and economic relief, he believed that a second extraordinary session was unavoidable and that it would likely be this month, Ker said. This would delay review of the budget request to late next month, when the new legislative session is to begin, defeating the purpose of another extraordinary session, he said. In this context, if the DPP caucus insists on holding another extraordinary session, it is bound to meet with strong pushback from the KMT, Ker said. Separately, Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua (王美花) said that not holding a second extraordinary session would create difficulties for efforts by the government to stimulate the economy, while companies affected by the COVID-19 pandemic need funds to keep running.

Source: Taipei Times August 13, 2020 15:56 UTC