Parliament Debates Agriculture Budget for Nearly Four Hours
Parliament spent nearly four hours debating the Agriculture Ministry's budget allocation on September 8, with lawmakers warning that continued lengthy discussions could force budget voting to extend to September 10.
Parliament's consideration of the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry budget allocation consumed nearly four hours on September 8 during the second and third readings of the 3.78 trillion baht fiscal year 2570 budget bill, with most speakers from the Bhumjai Thai Party. After the vote passed, Thanayos Timsuwan, an opposition lawmaker from Loei representing Bhumjai Thai, noted that the previous day's budget debate on September 7 had already run 15 hours total: 2.5 hours of committee clarification, 4 hours 6 minutes from government speakers, and 7 hours 41 minutes from opposition speakers. Scheduled debates on the Transport Ministry, Digital Economy Ministry, and Natural Resources Ministry sections are expected to take another 4 hours 10 minutes combined. Peeraphol Kanokwilai, a list-based lawmaker from the Ruam Palang Chart Party, requested that Deputy Speaker Lertsakdi Pathanachaigul impose stricter time controls on speakers during budget debate—limiting remarks only to those with motions or amendments—warning that uncontrolled debate similar to first-reading procedures could force parliament to extend budget voting until September 10. Earlier, Speaker Sophan Sarem had cautioned lawmakers that failure to adhere to agreed speaking time limits could require the full budget consideration to stretch until September 10.
