Bangkok: The Prime Minister declined to answer questions about the Constitutional Court’s scheduled hearing on August 21. Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, who also serves as the Minister of Culture, was at the House of Representatives to lend support to MPs deliberating over the 2026 Budget Bill during its 2nd and 3rd readings. This marks the second day of continued discussions on the bill.

According to Thai News Agency, reporters aimed to gather comments from Ms. Paethongtarn regarding the Constitutional Court’s decision to set a verdict reading for August 29 and a hearing for the audio clip case involving a conversation with Samdech Hun Sen, President of the Cambodian Senate, on August 21. Questions were posed to determine if she would personally attend the hearing and if she could assure her presence at the last minute. Ms. Paethongtarn responded with a smile and remarked, “21st is exactly my birthday,” avoiding any direct answers to the inquiries.