Democrat Deputy Chief Fires Back at Minister Critics
Democrat Deputy Chief Kalee Liawpairooj clashed with cabinet ministers over governance competence, arguing Thailand's crisis demands experienced personnel and long-term strategic planning rather than reactive piecemeal decisions.
On July 16, 2025, at Parliament, Kalee Liawpairooj, a Democrat list MP and deputy party leader, responded to criticism from a group of cabinet ministers known as the "divine children." She rejected their claims and countered that the Democrat Party has existed for 80 years, not 30 years as they suggested—the latter figure likely refers to the ministers' own ages. Kalee stressed that Thailand's current crisis demands talented and experienced personnel, and she urged the special minister group to demonstrate their skills more visibly.
"Many people have continuously criticized me, but I want to say that I don't even know many of them or have to look up their surnames," Kalee said. "However, we can still work together because I uphold the principle of being a watchdog, checking every project without stopping. If people are open-minded, I believe we can work well together. But Thailand badly needs skilled people because we are in crisis." She added that while she can work alongside these ministers, the country is facing significant challenges.
When asked if she believed the current government lacked capability, Kalee responded with a mix of humor and seriousness, saying she had just created another headline. She expressed frustration that many decisions lack long-term vision beyond initial budget allocations. She cited major issues like artificial intelligence strategy, data centers, and a 400 billion baht treasury borrowing decree to address energy crisis impacts, noting these require deeper understanding and foresight.
Kalee emphasized the need for a shared national vision, pointing out that Thailand's past decisions have been piecemeal and reactive, causing missed opportunities. She called for coherent long-term planning, especially as the country develops new master plans. She questioned whether Thailand had clearly defined its future role in the digital industry and whether current budget allocations, such as the 1.5 billion baht for the TH-AI Passport project used by 5 million people, truly serve the best national strategy.
"Today I'm at the Pom Prap Sattru Phai district. Thank you to everyone who raised issues today," Kalee concluded.
