People's Party: Govt Oil Subsidy is Short-Term, Excludes Fishermen & Plastics

Matichon•Politics•2d ago

Reader Briefing

The People's Party criticizes the government's recent oil subsidy measures, deeming them insufficient and failing to address the needs of crucial sectors like fishing and plastic manufacturing.

•The People's Party stated the government's 7,700 million baht oil subsidy measure is largely short-term, with only 3,000 million baht allocated for immediate relief.
•Key groups, including fishermen and the plastic pellet industry, were excluded from the government's relief efforts.
•The party called for greater transparency regarding fertilizer prices and quantities, urging the Ministry of Commerce to release data.
•Concerns were raised about the government's fiscal health, with the party noting that funds for the welfare fund were insufficient for fiscal year 2026.
•The party advocates for a parliamentary bill to transfer budgets for transparency, rather than an emergency decree.

Overview

•A total budget of 7,700 million THB was allocated for the relief measures.
•Only approximately 3,000 million THB of the allocated budget is for immediate, short-term relief.
•Fishermen and the plastic pellet industry are identified as groups not benefiting from the current relief measures.
•The People's Party urges the Ministry of Commerce to disclose fertilizer quantities and prices to prevent price gouging.
•The People's Party highlights that the welfare fund for fiscal year 2026 had insufficient budgetary allocation, necessitating the use of 4,700 million THB from the central fund.
•Transparency in budget transfers is critical; the People's Party insists on a parliamentary bill rather than an emergency decree.
•The People's Party expects a cabinet resolution to define which budgets will be cut or reallocated, given the limited remaining budget period.
•The People's Party urged the government to quickly identify new budget sources to address the immediate needs of the public.

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Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Quotes

Sirikanya Tan_thakoon

"Therefore, the next step is expected to be a cabinet resolution outlining which budgets will be cut or proceed."

ดังนั้น ขั้นตอนต่อไปตนคาดหวังว่ามติคณะรัฐมนตรีจะต้องมีการออกหลักเกณฑ์ ว่างบประมาณใดที่จะถูกตัดหรือได้ไปต่อ

Key Entities

Organization

People's Party(พรรคประชาชน)

A political party that commented on the government's economic measures.

Cabinet(คณะรัฐมนตรี)

The government body that approved the oil subsidy measures.

Pracharath Fund(กองทุนประชารัฐ)

A government fund that the People's Party claims had insufficient allocation for fiscal year 2026.

Ministry of Commerce(กระทรวงพาณิชย์)

The ministry holding data on fertilizer quantities and prices, urged to disclose it by the People's Party.

Comptroller General's Department(กรมบัญชีกลาง)

The department that issued a directive for government agencies to disburse budgets by April 30.

Person

Weerayuth Kanchuchat(นายวีระยุทธ กาญจน์ชูฉัตร)

Member of Parliament (List) and Deputy Leader of the People's Party, who spoke at the press conference.

Sirikanya Tan_thakoon(น.ส.ศิริกัญญา ตันสกุล)

Member of Parliament (List) and Deputy Leader of the People's Party, who provided a meta-analysis of the budget.

Decharut Sukkhamenod(นายเดชรัต สุขกำเนิด)

Director of Policy for the People's Party, who detailed the impact on agriculture and other sectors.

Deputy Prime Minister Supachai Suthamphant(รองนายกรัฐมนตรี ศุภจี สุธรรมพันธุ์)

An official who was mentioned as attempting to explain the discrepancies in fertilizer figures.

Deputy Prime Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas(รองนายกรัฐมนตรี เอกนิติ นิติทัณฑ์ประภาศ)

An official who mentioned the national budget for 2027 as a future source of funding.

Law

Act(พ.ร.บ.)

Legislation that the People's Party insists should be used for budget transfers to ensure transparency.

Context

Budget Year 69(ใบงบประมาณปี 69)

The fiscal year for which the People's Party points out the welfare fund's insufficiency.

Timeline

April 11(เลขที่ 11 เมษายน)

The date of the press conference held by the People's Party.

Place

Future Forward Party Building(อาคารอนาคตใหม่)

The location where the People's Party held their press conference.

Policy

Green Flag Fertilizer Program(ปุ๋ยธงเขียว)

A government program to subsidize fertilizer, which the People's Party deems insufficient.

State Welfare Card(บัตรสวัสดิการแห่งรัฐ)

A benefit program for low-income individuals, the People's Party noted that many still do not receive it.