Opposition Leader Warns Of Fiscal Crisis As Debt Soars

On July 11, 2569, at Parliament's committee on budget compilation and oversight, headed by Rakchnok Srinok, a Democrat Party MP, the "Hack Budget 70" event was held with opposition leader Nattapong Ruengpanya delivering the keynote address on structural budget system problems. Using AI technology to audit the 2570 budget, Nattapong revealed that true capital investment comprises only 13% while the government attempts to reclassify expenditures into subsidies to meet the legal minimum of 20% investment spending. He cited the digital wallet distribution program as an example of redefining short-term political campaigns as capital investment when they benefit immediate popularity rather than long-term national development. Nattapong stressed the need for clear definitions of genuine capital expenditure to prevent future governments from manipulating budget classifications. He further noted Thailand's structural problems: high debt with inadequate revenue collection, most budgets consumed by routine spending and central government personnel costs, leaving little for national development. Budget distribution is highly concentrated in Bangkok, which receives 22,493 baht per person compared to only 5,517 baht per person in the Northeast. Nattapong warned that if this disparity persists, the country faces bankruptcy, pointing to a disconnect between economic growth and tax collection that reveals revenue leakage. Regarding committed budgets, he noted some long-term commitments extending to 2609, while the 2570 budget must be analyzed across three spending categories: personnel salaries for civil servants like education, health, and defense ministries; infrastructure investment by transport, agriculture, and interior ministries; and transfers and subsidies by higher education and interior ministries. The Democratic Party plans to propose several reform bills including the Budget Method Act, Budget Reform Act, Procurement Act, and legislation to strengthen Parliament's budget office authority, aiming to transition toward zero-based budgeting.