The relevant issues of the central government’s budget for the next year have recently become the focus of debate in the legislature. Among them, the budget for electricity expenses of various ministries of the central government has been increased by a significant 25% for next year, reaching 10.1 billion yuan, which has been widely criticized by the opposition party.
Yesterday, legislator Huang Kuo-chang of the People’s Party revealed during a live broadcast that Prime Minister Su Tseng-chang used 20,000 kWh of electricity in just two months after taking office on May 20, resulting in an astonishing electricity bill of 150,000 yuan. Huang sarcastically commented during the live broadcast, “Was he mining for Bitcoins inside?”
Today, Prime Minister Su Tseng-chang, during a media interview after the Legislative Yuan session, stated that it was only after the refurbishment of the official residence was completed in late June that he held a few meetings there. He also clarified that he only spent two nights a week in the official residence and that it is usually unoccupied. Regarding the abnormal electricity consumption, Su Tseng-chang stated that he will ask the power company to investigate, and if any anomalies are confirmed, a comprehensive review will be conducted and improvements will be made.
On the other hand, legislator Chang Chi-kai of the People’s Party also questioned Prime Minister Su Tseng-chang today regarding the electricity budget of various ministries. When referring to the significant 60% increase in the electricity expenses of the Judicial Yuan for next year, Chang sarcastically asked, “Are they mining for Bitcoins too?”
Prime Minister Su Tseng-chang responded, “This kind of description is highly inappropriate, legislator. It is very inappropriate to describe the Judicial Yuan as mining for Bitcoins. I don’t think we should use such descriptions. (Chang: The public is satirizing the significant increase in expenses.) The public does not satirize by saying they are mining for Bitcoins.”
