Thai Budget Committee Votes to Cut House Budget by 178 Million Baht

Strategic Insights -

The Thai Budget Committee has voted unanimously to cut the House budget by 178 million baht to avoid potential lawsuits under Section 144 of the Constitution. The decision was made during a meeting of the Special Committee to consider the draft Budget Act for the Fiscal Year 2026 of the House of Representatives. The cut is aimed at reducing the budget for the Office of the Secretary-General of the House of Representatives, which had submitted three projects for consideration.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Thai Budget Committee voted unanimously to cut the House budget by 178 million baht, fearing potential lawsuits under Section 144 of the Constitution.
  • The cut is aimed at reducing the budget for the Office of the Secretary-General of the House of Representatives, which had submitted three projects for consideration.
  • The projects include developing the potential of youth and people in a democratic regime, promoting public participation in a democratic regime with the King as Head of State, and promoting the role of political freedom in a democratic regime with the King as Head of State.
  • Pol. Lt. Col. Aphat Sukhanan, Secretary-General of the House of Representatives, explained that the projects arose from additional amendments by the Office of the Secretary-General of the House of Representatives, which were implemented in the 2025 budget.
  • The Constitutional Court accepted the petition for consideration on July 17, leading to the committee's decision to reduce the budget for the Office of the Secretary-General of the House of Representatives.
  • The committee voted 45-0-2-1 to agree to the adjustment, effectively cutting the House budget by 178 million baht.

Statistics:

  • 178 million baht: The amount cut from the House budget.
  • 3: The number of projects submitted by the Office of the Secretary-General of the House of Representatives.
  • 45: The number of votes in support of the budget reduction.
  • 0: The number of votes opposing the budget reduction.
  • 2: The number of abstentions.
  • 1: The number of members who did not wish to vote.
  • July 17: The date on which the Constitutional Court accepted the petition for consideration.

Sources:

  • Thai News Agency (July 18, 2025)
  • Meeting of the Special Committee to consider the draft Budget Act for the Fiscal Year 2026 of the House of Representatives
  • Pol. Lt. Col. Aphat Sukhanan, Secretary-General of the House of Representatives
  • Mr. Chulaphan Amornvivat, Deputy Minister of Finance, Vice Chairman of the Committee