Bangkok: The Prime Minister entered Parliament to propose an emergency decree for borrowing 400 billion baht, with ministers prepared to explain the bill to the opposition. The Prime Minister appeared in good spirits, smiling and acknowledging a respectful greeting from Mr. Nattapong Ruangpanyawut, the Leader of the Opposition. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Ekniti Nitithanprapas expressed confidence that the decree would pass, citing positive second-quarter economic performance.
According to Thai News Agency, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul addressed the Speaker of the House of Representatives concerning the Royal Decree that authorizes the Ministry of Finance to borrow funds aimed at addressing the energy crisis and facilitating the country's energy transition by 2026. This move comes after the enactment of the decree into law, with the government presenting it to the House of Representatives for constitutional consideration. Upon arriving at Parliament, the Prime Minister exchanged a respectful bow and smile with Mr. Nattapong, who was holding a press conference, before proceeding to the elevator.
Mr. Anutin discussed the second ordinary session of the House of Representatives, which is set to deliberate the Emergency Decree on Borrowing following a ruling from the Constitutional Court. He expressed confidence that the matter would proceed smoothly, emphasizing the importance of addressing questions and concerns from the opposition through prepared ministerial explanations.
Deputy Prime Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas reassured that all questions from the opposition regarding the emergency decree would be addressed during the session. He highlighted the alignment of second-quarter economic figures with their predictions and stated that the economic situation could have been worse without the decree. Ekniti conveyed his optimism about the decree's passage through Parliament.
Opposition Leader Mr. Nattapong Ruangpanyawut emphasized the House's authority to consider the decree under Article 172 of the Constitution, covering both national security and the urgency of the decree. He argued that the debate should not be limited by the Constitutional Court's ruling and should fully scrutinize the 200 billion baht allocation for the energy transition.
Mr. Nattapong also addressed concerns regarding the potential favoritism towards particular contractors in the allocation of funds, suggesting that the debate would clarify whether the government's allocation would indeed aid the planned energy transition or merely serve as a project for solar power installations. He noted the availability of alternative funding sources, such as private sector contributions and state enterprises, to support the energy infrastructure transformation without resorting to government loans.
When asked about the debate being a precursor to a no-confidence motion, Mr. Nattapong urged patience, highlighting that the current session focuses on the emergency decree and its correct application. He stressed the importance of fiscal discipline and investment that leads to tangible change, urging the public to remain attentive to the ongoing parliamentary discussions.