Abhisit Challenges Budget Over Finance Violations
Abhisit Vejjajiva challenged Thailand's 3.78 trillion baht budget on September 7, proposing a 150 billion baht cut and alleging the government misclassified emergency reserves and operational expenses as capital investment to circumvent the
On September 7, the House of Representatives convened to review the draft Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2570 with a total budget of 3.78 trillion baht in its second and third readings. Abhisit Vejjajiva, Democrat Party leader and list MP, spoke on Article 4, proposing a 150 billion baht cut from the overall budget. He argued the government has substantial off-budget funds for national problems and will borrow an additional 200 billion baht this year. However, he expressed concern about Thailand's public debt approaching its ceiling and mounting liabilities in state enterprises and government banks.
Abhisit criticized the special committee for failing to scrutinize the budget rigorously, particularly questioning whether certain line items should qualify as capital investment. He highlighted concerns over 100 billion baht in emergency reserves being classified as 60 billion baht in investment spending, when emergency budgets typically lack approved projects, plans, or locations. He also questioned whether 4.5 billion baht for state cloud service fees should count as capital expenditure, noting that data storage for routine operations is operational, not investment spending.
Abhisit insisted that when laws exist, they must be enforced fairly. If the government cannot comply with requirements under the Financial Discipline Act—which mandates capital expenditure at no less than 20 percent of total spending and not less than the budget deficit—it should declare this to parliament rather than bypass the law. He pledged to monitor whether the billions approved by the Prime Minister and Cabinet truly uphold financial discipline and whether the emergency fund's 60 percent allocation to capital spending is legitimate. If not, he said, it constitutes a legal violation requiring further scrutiny.
Anurak Jureemasuk, a Roi Et MP and deputy chair of the special committee from Phum Thai Party, countered that all procedures followed the law correctly. The House voted 281 in favor, 133 opposed, 46 abstaining, and 1 absent on Article 4.
