Bangkok: “Phao Bhum” maintains that the government has responsibly prepared the 2016 budget, adhering to a framework of fiscal discipline, despite criticisms from the opposition. The government acknowledges that only a quarter of the remaining funds are available for use due to a high regular budget but highlights an adjustment down to 70.1%, the lowest in 18 years.

According to Thai News Agency, Deputy Minister of Finance Mr. Paopum Rojanasakul responded to critiques from Mr. Nattapong Ruangpanyawut, Leader of the Opposition, regarding the 2026 budget. Mr. Paopum emphasized that although the opposition can outline the budget’s overall picture, incorrect assumptions could lead to inaccurate conclusions. He stated that managing the budget is crucial given Thailand’s economic uncertainties, and while a budget deficit is inevitable, it is being reduced from 4.5% in 2025 to a projected 3.1% over the next few years.

The government has allocated a budget for repaying principal debt at the maximum legally permitted rate of approximately 4% and aims to increase this ceiling to 5% next year, demonstrating fiscal responsibility. Despite managing only a quarter of the 3.78 trillion baht budget due to a large regular budget, efforts have been made to reduce the regular budget by 1.05%, reaching the lowest level in 18 years to allow for future investments.

In response to observations about insufficient income distribution to local areas, Mr. Pao Bhum explained that 29.43% of this year’s budget is allocated to local administrative organizations, the highest in history, showing the government’s commitment to income distribution. The government is also focused on promoting the consumption sector to attract investment, with a steady increase in value-added tax collection over the past months. Meanwhile, the manufacturing and automotive sectors, despite challenges, have shown signs of improvement.

Mr. Pao Bhumi reiterated the government’s dedicated efforts in responsibly preparing the 2026 budget with the aim of economic development amid future challenges. In contrast, Mr. Nattapong argued that discrepancies in budget allocations undermine the claimed fiscal responsibility, pointing out minor discrepancies in local income proportions and asserting that the 2026 budget allocation shows minimal structural changes from 2025.