Pakarun Confident 400 Billion Baht Emergency Decree Won't Violate Constitution, Dismisses Critics' Blank Check Argument

At 9:00 AM on May 12, 2025 at Government House, Deputy Prime Minister Pakarun Nilpraphan addressed concerns from the opposition about challenging the 400 billion baht emergency decree in the Constitutional Court. He stated that the government must carefully consider each decree issuance, as a Constitutional Court rejection would nullify it retroactively and create complications. The government is confident the measure maintains genuine economic security and meets urgent necessity requirements, citing insufficient existing funds despite thorough reviews by the Finance Ministry and Budget Bureau. Current uncertainties, including ongoing regional conflicts, necessitate the decree. Pakarun clarified that the law remains enforceable and projects will proceed unless the court orders otherwise. The government will submit the decree to Parliament for approval while awaiting the court's decision within 60 days. Regarding constitutional compliance, Pakarun explained that the 400 billion baht divides into two components that are interchangeable, serving dual simultaneous purposes: emergency relief and energy transition, which he characterized as inseparable objectives requiring parallel implementation. He referenced previous constitutional interpretations, noting that the 1997 Constitution examined only economic security without considering urgency, while the 2007 Constitution required both conditions—a standard that created complications during the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration and contradictions during Yingluck Shinawatra's government regarding her 2 trillion baht infrastructure investment. The 2017 Constitution reverted to the 1997 standard, examining only economic security while trusting the government's assessment of urgency, as the Finance Ministry functions as the nation's financial custodian.