Bangkok: "Chusak" is confident that changing the 2015 budget to distribute 10,000 baht will not be considered a violation of Section 144. Chusak explains the change in the 2015 budget to distribute 10,000 baht to stimulate the economy, confident that it will not fall under Section 144 after the NACC accepted the petition for consideration.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Chusak Sirinil, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office, elaborated on the legal framework governing the budget amendment. He pointed out that Section 144 of the Constitution prohibits amendments that would reduce or eliminate allocations meant for repaying government debts. These debts, guaranteed by the Ministry of Finance and comprising liabilities of state enterprises, are mandatory budget items crucial for maintaining the country's fiscal discipline. Chusak emphasized that failure to repay these debts could lead to national bankruptcy, hence the strict prohibition against adjustments outlined in Section 144.
The 35,000 million baht reduction in question was carefully reviewed by the Ministry of Finance and five specialized financial institutions. This budget pertains to compensation for expenses or loss of income suffered by government agencies due to state projects. The allocation does not exceed thirty-two percent of the national budget, as stipulated by the State Fiscal Policy Committee. Chusak argues that the funds for the Digital Wallet project, amounting to 10,000 baht, do not fall under the prohibitions of Section 144 since they are not part of the debt repayment budget.
Chusak further affirmed that the amendments follow precedents set during the 2022 budget drafting process. He highlighted the principle embedded in the Constitution's Section 144, which restricts MPs from altering expenditures tied to governmental obligations. This principle ensures that the legislature cannot interfere with project expenditures not proposed by the executive branch. The Constitution has upheld this principle since 1997, with the 2017 Constitution introducing more stringent measures to prevent undue petitions against the Cabinet, MPs, and Senators.