Taiwan's ruling and opposition parties are blaming each other for a paralyzed legislature as year-end local elections approach — bad news for anyone hoping for functional government in Taipei.

• The DPP says the KMT and TPP dragged out the session into the longest on record while stalling budgets, blocking defense spending and holding up appointments.
• The ruling party is urging voters to punish the eight KMT lawmakers running for mayor or county chief in the year-end vote.
• The KMT fires back that the DPP has no governing record to show, so it dumps every failure on the opposition and smears instead of arguing policy.
• The KMT points to food safety scandals, flood damage in the south, and the cabinet refusing to sign or carry out laws the legislature passed.

Outlook: Expect the fight to shift from the legislature to the campaign trail, with both sides running on the other's record until the year-end local elections.