Opposition Leader Attacks Government Aid Program as Ineffective
Democratic Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva criticized the government's 170-billion-baht aid program as wasteful, arguing his party's oil price model would have prevented the crisis and that assistance should target only those genuinely in ne
At the Khon Kaen International Convention and Exhibition Centre on July 6, Democratic Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva spoke to media about the 'Thai Help Thai Plus' program. Abhisit said the party supports relief assistance for people facing hardship, but argued that if the government had adopted the Democratic Party's proposed oil price model, the situation would have stabilized by February without requiring emergency relief and a fraction of the current spending.
By choosing this approach, he argued, many people who don't genuinely need assistance are receiving aid, ultimately forcing the government to collect money from taxpayers. He questioned why taxpayers should subsidize the Prime Minister and Finance Minister's meals while the government creates debt for citizens—even though people still need help.
Abhisit emphasized that the program's 170 billion baht budget will be exhausted within four months, noting that the program is now in its second and third months while prices continue rising. He asked whether prices will drop after the program ends and what the government will do then. He concluded that if aid were limited strictly to those truly in hardship, assistance could be extended far longer.
