Lawmaker Proposes 10% Budget Cuts To Reallocate Spending
Democrat MP Korn Chatikavanich proposed a 10% budget cut during House debate on the 3.78 trillion baht fiscal 2025 budget to allow cabinet flexibility in redirecting funds toward education, elderly welfare, and other priorities. He warned t
On September 7, 2025, the House of Representatives convened at 9 a.m. under the chairmanship of Sophon Sararum to debate the fiscal 2025 budget bill with a total outlay of 3.78 trillion baht. At 10:47 a.m., Democrat MP Korn Chatikavanich proposed a 10% overall budget reduction—not to shrink the government's total spending, but to give the cabinet flexibility to redirect those funds toward genuine national priorities. He identified five critical areas needing budget attention: education, elderly welfare, household debt, production efficiency, and technological adaptation.
Korn acknowledged that structural problems plague both budget allocation and government revenue. While the government has authorized 400 billion baht in emergency borrowing, he said the funds are being channeled into routine projects and asset purchases rather than direct public relief or structural reform. He highlighted that tax collection relative to GDP has fallen to 14%, with over 99% of revenue coming from wage earners and less than 1% from the wealthy—a sign of tax system inequality. Combined with economic growth of only 2%, Korn warned that without fundamental changes to tax policy, state enterprise management, and budget philosophy, the government risks a fiscal trap that will hurt low-income earners and pensioners most.
Korn concluded that incremental changes will not solve the budget crisis. The government must rethink its approach to taxation, the role of foreign business in the economy, state enterprise holdings, and existing regulations, or structural budget problems will persist indefinitely.
