Parliament Cuts Foreign Travel for Committees
Parliament has banned all committee foreign travel except for previously scheduled duties of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, cutting 71 million baht from the legislative budget as part of broader 3-20% reductions across parliamentary instit
Manop Chareongsri, a Nakhon Phanom MP and vice chair of the special budget committee, announced that all parliamentary committees will no longer be permitted to travel abroad, except for critical duties of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker already scheduled in 2569.
On September 10, 2569, the House of Representatives convened to consider the fiscal year 2570 appropriations bill under the chairmanship of Sophon Sarum. At 1 p.m., Manop explained that parliament allocated 3,060 million baht total across three institutions: the House, Senate, and King Prajadhipok Institute. All three requested budget reductions of 3-20%, which will affect legislative performance, democratic development, and public participation in parliamentary governance. The committee approved a 71 million baht cut, specifically reducing foreign travel expenses.
"Therefore, all committee members should note that henceforth, no committee will have the opportunity to travel abroad, except for essential duties of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker already scheduled in 2569," Manop said.
Adithorn Piangkhaesat, a Pheu Thai list MP, questioned the budget cuts affecting democratic promotion and criticized the Senate, saying it is like an appendix—useful or useless, it makes no difference. He worried that the Senate would receive funds to teach democracy while being fundamentally undemocratic, and warned that funding non-democratic institutions to promote democracy to the public would be like administering poison to citizens. He urged the public to understand that the Senate is essentially expendable.
The assembly voted to approve the parliamentary budget article with 271 votes in favor, 124 against, 46 abstentions, and 7 absent.
