Taiwan's opposition-controlled legislature blocked President Lai Ching-te's entire slate of government watchdog nominees, leaving the body frozen — bad for the presidential office, and a sign of deepening political gridlock.

• All 27 nominees to the Control Yuan, the agency that investigates officials, were voted down, including the nominee to lead it.
• The presidential office warned that investigations into public-interest and human rights cases will now stall.
• The KMT said the nominees were too politically aligned with the ruling party and told Lai to pick neutral candidates instead of blaming parliament.
• In a separate fight, the KMT wants to double a planned cash handout to citizens to NT$20,000, saying this year's extra tax revenue can pay for it.
• The premier called that handing debt to the next generation; the KMT fired back that the government is already borrowing new money to pay off old debt.

Outlook: Lai will have to renominate, and the watchdog agency stays empty until a slate can win over a legislature his party does not control.