People's Party Criticizes 400 Billion Loan and Solar Cell Projects

Matichon•Politics•1d ago

Reader Briefing

The People's Party raised concerns over the transparency and feasibility of a 400 billion baht loan decree, specifically regarding energy transition and solar cell projects.

•Sirikanya Tansakul stated that the Constitutional Court ruled a 200 billion baht portion of the loan for energy transition was illegally issued as a decree.
•Supachote Chaisaj claimed the 1 million household solar cell installation policy is technically impossible according to electricity distributors.
•Rakchanok Srinok expressed suspicion that solar cell procurement specifications are being locked to benefit specific contractors linked to the Blue network.
•The People's Party highlighted discrepancies in the Ministry of Transport's EV public vehicle transition project.

Overview

•On August 25, Sirikanya Tansakul held a press conference at the Parliament following a Shadow Cabinet meeting of the People's Party.
•Sirikanya Tansakul stated that legal and fiscal experts found no concrete plan for the 200 billion baht energy transition fund.
•Supachote Chaisaj warned that the lack of clear indicators and concrete details in the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives' projects could lead to corruption.
•Supachote Chaisaj reported that electricity distributors stated the goal of installing solar cells in 1 million households is currently impossible due to technical grid constraints.
•The Ministry of Transport's project to replace public vehicles with EVs may be reduced to only include taxis, despite an initial target of 80,000 vehicles.
•Rakchanok Srinok suspected that the solar cell and solar pump procurement processes might be designed to benefit contractors within the Blue network.
•Rakchanok Srinok noted that the Extraordinary Committee monitoring the 400 billion loan has not yet reconvened following the Constitutional Court's ruling.
•Rakchanok Srinok has requested data on the number of companies holding TIS certifications for solar equipment to check for spec-locking.

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Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Quotes

Supachote Chaisaj

"It can be seen that said project is not as advertised; initially one thing was proposed, but now many things are limited. It seems the government was not prepared enough."

ซึ่งจะเห็นได้ว่าโครงการดังกล่าวค่อนข้างจะไม่ตรงปก ที่ตอนแรกมีการเสนอไว้อย่างหนึ่ง แต่ปัจจุบันหลายหลายอย่างติดข้อจำกัดมากมาย เหมือนรัฐบาลมีการเตรียมความพร้อมและทำการบ้านไม่มากเพียงพอ ตั้งโครงการมา โฆษณาไปก่อนแล้วค่อยมาหาวิธีการกัน

Key Entities

Person

Sirikanya Tansakul(ศิริกัญญา ตันสกุล)

List MP and Deputy Leader of the People's Party.

Supachote Chaisaj(ศุภโชติ ไชยสัจ)

List MP of the People's Party and member of the Extraordinary Committee monitoring the 400 billion loan.

Ekniti Nitithanprapas(เอกนิติ นิติฑัณประภาส)ℹ️

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.

Siripong Angkasakulkiat(สิริพงศ์ อังคสกุลเกียรติ)

Deputy Minister of Transport.

Piphat Ratchakitprakarn(พิพัฒน์ รัชกิจประการ)

Minister of Transport.

Rakchanok Srinok(รักชนก ศรีนอก)

List MP of the People's Party and member of the Extraordinary Committee monitoring the 400 billion loan.

Supachai Jaisamut(ศุภชัย ใจสมุทร)ℹ️

List MP of the Bhumjaithai Party and Chairman of the Extraordinary Committee monitoring the 400 billion loan.

Organization

People's Party(พรรคประชาชน)

The political party criticizing the government's loan decree and energy plans.

Constitutional Court(ศาลรัฐธรรมนูญ)ℹ️

The court that ruled the issuance of the 200 billion baht portion of the loan decree was unlawful.

Bhumjaithai Party(พรรคภูมิใจไทย)ℹ️

The political party to which the Chairman of the monitoring committee belongs.

Department of Local Administration(กรมการปกครองส่วนท้องถิ่น)

A government agency accused of potentially locking product codes in procurement.

Ministry of Transport(กระทรวงคมนาคม)ℹ️

The ministry responsible for the EV public vehicle transition project.

Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives(กระทรวงเกษตรและสหกรณ์)

The ministry that requested over 60 billion baht for projects with limited detail.

Royal Irrigation Department(กรมชลประทาน)

An agency that proposed a 20 billion baht plan for water resource development and solar pumps.

Department of Groundwater Resources(กรมน้ำบาดาล)

An agency approved for 6.5 billion baht for solar pump projects.

Law

400 Billion Baht Loan Decree(พ.ร.ก. เงินกู้ 4 แสนล้านบาท)

A government emergency decree for borrowing 400 billion baht, partially contested by the opposition.

Place

Parliament(รัฐสภา)ℹ️

The location where the People's Party press conference took place.