Bangkok: The Cabinet is set to discuss the draft emergency decree for borrowing 400 billion baht and other important laws today. The government spokesperson revealed that the Cabinet is set to discuss the draft emergency decree for borrowing 400 billion baht, as well as several other important laws. He affirmed the urgent need to proceed with these measures to alleviate hardship and promote clean energy.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, stated regarding today's Cabinet meeting that the public should wait for the results of the meeting, as several important laws will be considered. In particular, the draft emergency decree for the 400 billion baht loan is a matter of great interest to the public. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who is also the Minister of Interior, will be the one to announce the results of the meeting.
In addition, the meeting also considered the cancellation of MOU 44, the review of legislation resulting from the previous House of Representatives' pending sessions, which laws will be submitted for further consideration, as well as draft agreements to be signed at the ASEAN meeting and the personal data protection law. The government spokesperson team will provide updates to the public.
Regarding the use of the emergency decree funds, Ms. Rachada stated that they will be used in two ways: to alleviate public hardship and to support the energy transition from reliance on imports to cleaner energy sources like solar power. The goal is to use the energy crisis as a catalyst to promote the installation of rooftop solar panels in Thailand, with measures in place to mitigate the hardship faced by the public and the agricultural sector, while simultaneously building a sustainable energy base for the medium and long term. This is to utilize this opportunity to the greatest benefit of the country.
Regarding the issuance of this emergency decree, it could not have been issued as a regular law, as the opposition believes it might not be thorough. Ms. Rachada stated that it is impossible to lack thoroughness and that issuing it as an emergency decree was necessary. However, she believes that the public can be made to understand the situation and that it will benefit them, and they need not fear that the money will disappear. She explained that projects aimed at supporting the people, such as "Thai Helps Thai" and "Half-Price Plus," involve transferring funds directly from the government to the people's pockets.
Another portion of the funds to be given to those holding state welfare cards involves transferring budget from the state to the people's pockets. Therefore, it will not be lost along the way. However, I thank the opposition for raising the issue of transparency, which I believe will be beneficial. I affirm that transparency is a government intention to ensure the public understands and is confident that this government is fully caring for the people. We have set directions for national administration in the short, medium, and long term. The budget from the Emergency Decree will be used to address the current emergency, but at the same time, we will consider the 2027 Budget Act concurrently, which is part of the medium and long-term national development plans.