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Rakchanok protests budget allocation in Parliament

Rakchanok protests budget allocation in Parliament

Khaosod•Politics•11m ago

Reader Briefing

Rakchanok Srinok questioned the transparency of a 400 billion baht energy loan decree during a House of Representatives meeting on August 26, 2026.

  • •Rakchanok Srinok expressed concern that 200 billion baht of the energy loan might benefit the Bhumjaithai Party's capital groups.
  • •Rakchanok Srinok cited a 5.5 billion baht groundwater project as evidence of budget favoring Bhumjaithai Party constituency MPs.
  • •The session involved multiple protests from Bhumjaithai Party MPs and a warning from Deputy House Speaker Lertsak Pattanachaikul regarding inappropriate language.

Overview

  • •On August 26, 2026, the House of Representatives held a meeting to consider a royal decree allowing the Ministry of Finance to borrow 400 billion baht for energy crisis resolution.
  • •Rakchanok Srinok stated that the 200 billion baht allocated for energy transition might be used as a front for corruption or to benefit the Blue party's capital groups.
  • •Rakchanok Srinok referenced a 6.5 billion baht central budget for drought relief, specifically noting a 5.5 billion baht portion for groundwater systems.
  • •Rakchanok Srinok plotted the 5.5 billion baht budget on a map, claiming the funds were disproportionately allocated to areas held by Bhumjaithai Party MPs.
  • •Lertsak Pattanachaikul warned Rakchanok Srinok to stay on the topic of the loan decree and avoid discussing the annual budget or central budget.
  • •Lertsak Pattanachaikul requested that Rakchanok Srinok withdraw the terms 'wicked' and 'evil' when referring to politicians, leading Rakchanok Srinok to change the term to 'bad' politicians.
  • •Rakchanok Srinok questioned Ekniti Nitithanprapas on whether he remembered the feeling of being a civil servant forced to handle strange projects by bad politicians.

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Key Quotes

Rakchanok Srinok
"Once this sum of money is used, many people may be able to establish themselves."
ถ้าเงินก้อนนี้ใช้เมื่อไหร่ อาจมีหลายคนตั้งเนื้อตั้งตัวได้เลยทีเดียว
Rakchanok Srinok
"If you still have common sense, I want you to protect the officials in the Ministry of Finance."
ถ้าท่านยังมีสามัญสำนึก ดิฉันก็อยากให้ท่านปกป้องข้าราชการในกระทรวงการคลัง

Key Entities

Person

Rakchanok Srinok(รักชนก ศรีนอก)
A list MP from the People's Party who debated the energy loan decree.
Ekniti Nitithanprapas(เอกนิติ นิติทัณฑ์ประภาศ)ℹ️
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.
Lertsak Pattanachaikul(เลิศศักดิ์ พัฒนชัยกุล)
The Second Deputy House Speaker acting as the meeting chairman.
Pichayut Phojit(พิชญุตม์ พอจิต)
A Bhumjaithai Party MP for Uttaradit.
Nattawut Buapratum(ณัฐวุฒิ บัวประทุม)
A list MP from the People's Party.
Natchanon Srikorkuea(ณัฎฐ์ชนน ศรีก่อเกื้อ)
A Bhumjaithai Party MP for Songkhla.

Organization

People's Party(พรรคประชาชน)
The political party to which Rakchanok Srinok and Nattawut Buapratum belong.
Bhumjaithai Party(พรรคภูมิใจไทย)ℹ️
The political party referred to as the Blue party in the budget debate.
Ministry of Finance(กระทรวงการคลัง)ℹ️
The ministry authorized to borrow funds under the royal decree.
Department of Groundwater Resources(กรมทรัพยากรน้ำบาดาล)
The agency managing a 1 billion baht portion of the drought relief budget.
House of Representatives(สภาผู้แทนราษฎร)ℹ️
The legislative body where the budget debate took place.

Law

Royal Decree authorizing the Ministry of Finance to borrow money to resolve the impact of the energy crisis and create an energy transition of the country 2026(พระราชกำหนด (พ.ร.ก.) ให้อำนาจกระทรวงการคลังกู้เงิน เพื่อแก้ไขปัญหาผลกระทบจากสถานการณ์วิกฤตด้านพลังงานและสร้างการเปลี่ยนผ่านด้านพลังงานของประเทศ พ.ศ.2569)
A decree providing a 400 billion baht loan limit for energy purposes.

Place

Parliament(รัฐสภา)ℹ️
The location where the meeting was held.