Finance Ministry Defends 18.8 Billion Baht Budget Reallocation, Says It Reduces Cost of Living
The Finance Ministry defended reallocating 18.8 billion baht to fund a welfare card program, arguing the move eases cost-of-living pressures and violates no fiscal rules despite criticism from an opposition MP.
The Finance Ministry has defended its decision to reallocate 18.8 billion baht from a 400 billion baht emergency borrowing decree to fund the state welfare card program, arguing the move is both legal and necessary to ease the public's financial burden.
The clarification comes after Sirikanya Tansakul, a Thai People's Party MP and party vice chair, posted on Facebook accusing the government of "sneaking" funds from the Pracharath Fund into regular budget spending.
Deputy Finance Minister Lawaron Saengsonit responded that the reallocation is proper fiscal management and serves the legitimate purpose of addressing rising cost of living without violating the emergency borrowing decree. "There's nothing fishy here," Saengsonit said. "Everything is transparent. Funds at this scale cannot be hidden, concealed, or covered up."
Saengsonit explained that the government exhausted alternative funding sources before turning to the emergency borrowing mechanism. The current fiscal year's central budget has only 20 billion baht remaining, while the legal reserve fund holds 50 billion baht. An additional 20 billion baht is expected from pending budget reallocation legislation.
The ministry faces severe budget constraints despite demand from various government agencies totaling 140 billion baht, including border security and disaster relief. This necessity prompted the emergency borrowing decree.
The 18.8 billion baht welfare card allocation for four months was funded through the emergency decree because it clearly meets the program's objective of protecting vulnerable groups and reduces pressure on the regular budget, allowing central funds to be directed more efficiently to other needs such as flood or drought relief.
The 400 billion baht emergency borrowing fund is divided into two categories: cost of living relief and energy transition. These categories do not need to be funded sequentially, but can be flexibly distributed as needed.
