In contrast, the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) major appeal is to halve the controversial NT$610.8 billion military procurement budget and make use of the money for public welfare, including a NT$4,000 subsidy to senior citizens aged above 65 per month, NT$5,000 to farmers over 65 years old per month, and NT$1,000 to disabled citizens per month.
The KMT has criticized the government's huge proposed spending, saying it could widen the national deficit and increase public debt.
Public debt accounted for 36.3 percent of the nation's GDP at the end of last year, People First Party Legislator Christine Liu (
With policymakers attaching no urgency to fiscal consolidation, Fitch Ratings said in October that it estimated that public debt could rise to 40 percent of GDP next year, although government debt servicing continued.
The KMT also promised to offer zero-interest tuition loans to high-school and college students, a 3-percent salary hike to public officials and various subsidies to elementary school pupils.
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