Taiwan's opposition KMT is rallying to topple the cabinet over a tainted cooking oil scandal, turning up the heat on President Lai Ching-te's government ahead of year-end local elections.

• Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an joined a KMT "unite to topple the cabinet" rally in Hualien, saying the toxic oil food-safety scare means the government must take responsibility.
• He demanded President Lai apologize to the public and said Premier Cho Jung-tai should answer for it politically.
• Rival DPP candidate Shen Bo-yang mocked the move as an admission that the opposition-run legislature is performing badly, since a no-confidence vote aims to dissolve that same legislature.
• Lawmakers passed the central budget after a 351-day fight, cutting about NT$48 billion (under 2%), and the government blasted the cuts as unreasonable while the KMT said it showed goodwill.
• Three referendums, including one to restart nuclear power, will be tied to the December vote; polls show Chiang leading Shen by about 15 points, though his earlier lead had been wider.

Outlook: Expect the budget fight, the no-confidence push, and the oil scandal to dominate campaigning as the December local elections near.