Govt needs all support it can muster for this week’s budget debate

People’s party deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakul has advised the government to ensure that most, if not all their MPs are present in the Lower House at all times during the second and final readings of the 2029 fiscal budget bill on August 13-15.

She said that, if the number of the MPs present were to be insufficient to form a quorum, the parliamentary meeting would not be able to proceed and the passing of the budget bill would be delayed.

She also said that the government should not expect opposition MPs to be present in the chamber at all times to make up the quorum, as she pointed out that a few House meetings have abruptly been adjourned recently due to the lack of quora.

Sirikanya expressed concern over the government’s slim majority in the House, noting that this may pose a problem for the government in passing the budget bill.

The People’s party deputy leader also said that opposition parties will still not vote in support of the bill, as they didn’t in the first reading, because there have been no changes in the allocation of budget, as sought by the opposition.

Spokesman for the United Thai Nation party, Akkaradet Wongpitakroj, said today that he is, however, confident that the budget bill will easily pass in its second and final readings.